Judge slams Australian Paper over mill death

Second offence leads to $230,000 fine for Australian Paper.

The fines were handed out this week after 31-year-old Brett Carroll was killed in 2005 while carrying out maintenance on a paper-making machine at Australia Paper's Maryvale plant when a five-tonne roller fell and crushed him.

WorkSafe's investigation found a range of safety mechanisms had been removed; the original instructions for maintenance were missing while a set of instructions created after a major refurbishment in1986 had been re-written without reference to the manufacturer's original instructions. 

Describing Carroll as a hard working decent Australian who died in a workplace accident that should never have happened, Judge Howard said Australian Paper exhibited a degree of complacency.

"On behalf of the community I denounce Australian Paper Limited's offending," he said.

Australian Paper, which operates four paper mills around Australia, pleaded guilty to one charge laid under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1985 which provided for a maximum fine of $255,625.

David Shirer, executive general manager of Corporate Affairs, PaperlinX, expressed the company's sympathy and regret over Carroll's death.

"We deeply regret the tragic accident that lead to the death of Brett Carroll, and the impact that this has had on his family, friends and colleagues," he said.

"Safety is important to us and we have continued to focus on this important area."

WorkSafe's executive director, John Merritt, said the tragedy was that even after disaster had struck another family, lessons were not learned.

"So many companies go to court saying they've learned from their mistakes and how they've gone to great lengths to prevent it happening again. What this case shows us is that while that offers a level of comfort, it's not much consolation when those failings strike again," he said.

Australian Paper was convicted and fined $160,000, and given an additional penalty of $70,000 because it had been prosecuted in 2003 over the March 2002 fatality.