Tullamarine tragedy avoidable

[Erik Sine]

Tullamarine tragedy avoidable

Kate Jones

August 15, 2007 12:00am

THE tragic death of a young worker could have been prevented if a Tullamarine company had obeyed proper safety rules, a court heard.

Sion Rees, 26, was electrocuted while fitting a floodlight in a Coburg car yard on April 18 last year.

The County Court yesterday heard the lights were still switched on when Mr Rees touched a broken globe and received a 240 volt shock.

The young man's heartbroken family said that Sion's sudden death had left them devastated.

"My son's death left my world numb," his father, Handel Rees, said in a statement tendered to court.

"He was my mate, my helper, my friend. I long for Sion to come home every day."

Yesterday, Mr Rees' employer, Camden Neon Signs, which makes signs for companies such as Ford and McDonald's, pleaded guilty to failing to provide a safe workplace.

Prosecutor Dr Greg Lyon, SC, told the court employees did not always turn lights off before changing globes and the sign company had not properly instructed workers on "tag-out" and "lock-out" procedures involving the isolation of live sites.

"Installers were exposed to foreseeable and very real danger," Dr Lyon said.

"The potential consequences were obvious."

Workers were not given suitable protection equipment such as insulated rubber gloves, the court heard.

Dr Lyon said this left all employees, not just Mr Rees, vulnerable to injury.

But Ross Ray, QC, for Camden Neon Signs, told the court all workers were not equipped with gloves because not all of them were expected to do "hot work" or work with live sites.

Judge Sue Pullen said the company's safety measures seemed "grossly insufficient".

Mr Ray said the company and its managing director, David Callons, had acted swiftly to improve safety procedures after the accident.

"Very clearly, much more attention should have been paid," Mr Ray said.

"The system was inadequate and the company takes full responsibility for that."

The company could face a maximum fine of more than $900,000.

Mr Ray said the company's debts exceeded its cash reserves and, although it would be able to pay a fine, it would be severely affected.

The company will be sentenced by Judge Pullen at a later date.