WORKSAFE Victoria says workplace safety conditions have not improved much since the industrial revolution, as it investigates a horrific accident at Tullamarine.
Two workers were carrying out routine maintenance on a press on the morning of 19 February 2009, when the machine started up, trapping their hands.
One man lost his hand, while the other’s hand was badly crushed.
On 18 February, an 18 year old man died when he was caught up in a press at a Thomastown cardboard factory.
According to the workplace safety watchdog, the four fatalities in Victoria this year is an indication of the amount of work still needed to be done to create safer workplaces.
Since the beginning of the industrial revolution, unguarded machines, inadequate training, poor supervision and dangerous work practices have led to many amputations, crushings, and other serious injuries and deaths.
While the same causes remain, WorkSafe says the situation is worse, because today’s machines are bigger, faster and stronger.
In 2008, 22 people died in Victorian businesses, while another 30,000 were injured.
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