Alcoa Australia has been fined $68,000 in Perth Magistrate’s Court
| Date: | Friday, 07 November 2014 |
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The company pleaded guilty to failing to provide or maintain a safe work environment
Alcoa Australia has been fined $68,000 in Perth Magistrate’s Court regarding the death of a contractor five years ago.
On 2 September 2009, 51-year-old Paul Fry fell to his death while working at Alcoa’s Wagerup Refinery, 130km south of Perth.
Mr Fry was on night-shift when he fell at least 25 metres having accessed an open manhole.
He was working with two colleagues doing descaling work on a large metal tank at the refinery when the incident occurred.
Department of Mines and Petroleum Resources Safety Executive Director Simon Ridge said the case served as a tragic reminder of the work place hazards and risks that are present across Western Australia’s resources industry.
“The lives of Mr Fry’s family and friends have been changed forever because of this tragic but, ultimately, preventable incident,” Mr Ridge said.
“No fine or penalty can ever make up for the price paid by Mr Fry and his family and friends.”
However, Mr Ridge said the sentence should serve as an extremely serious reminder for operators to address the hazards and risks on their sites.
“While there will always be hazards and risks working in the resources industry, they should not result in workers being harmed or killed,” Mr Ridge said.
“This is why it is vital for operators and their employees to understand and address the risks and hazards at their site to ensure the safety of all present.”
The company pleaded guilty to failing to provide or maintain a safe work environment and was sentenced on 7 November. As well as the fine, the company was also ordered to pay $5000 in court costs.
In 2012, the contractor that employed Mr Fry, Transpacific Industries, was fined more than $170,000 by the Federal Court.
