Young printer tragedy at carton factory

Death of 18-year-old Victorian employee sparks a call for safer workplaces in the printing industry.

The youth, whose name has been surpressed, had recently commenced employment at Advance Cartons in Thomastown, Victoria. He was reportedly pulled head-first into a printing press last week and died in hospital the next day.

According to Michael Birt, a spokesman for WorkSafe Victoria, he became trapped in the machine after his clothes were caught. Birt said that he had been working at Advance Cartons “only for a short time.”

WorkSafe has issued Advance Cartons with two prohibition notices and one improvement notice.

John Merritt, WorkSafe Victoria’s executive director, has urged all employers – especially those in the printing industry – to ensure that all machinery is guarded effectively.

“If machines are unguarded, if people don’t have appropriate training, licensing or supervision, and workers do not have the equipment needed to do their job safely, those issues must be dealt with,” he said.

“There’s no mystery about what hurts or kills people at work, but if you ignore the signs and warnings the consequences of not doing so can be horrendous and happen in an instant.”

Birt said that an inquest is likely and WorkSafe will produce a brief for the Coroner.