A METAL foundry has been fined $100,000 for the 2005 death of a 21-year-old worker at its Henderson factory.
Bradken Resources pleaded guilty for failing to ensure the safety or health of a person not being an employee.
The labour hire worker was at the foundry for less than three hours in April 2005 when he was killed by molten metal as a furnace exploded.
Workers had been heating materials in the furnace to form a metal alloy. The process caused the molten metal underneath to superheat, destroying the furnace lining. The resulting explosion ejected most of the molten metal from the furnace.
The victim had been undertaking a general workplace induction in the area. He was on the furnace deck observing the operation of the equipment.
According to WorkSafe WA, the incident is a reminder of the importance of safe systems of work. The alloy-making procedure did not have specific safe work methods, and the workers did not have adequate training for the task.
Although procedures did exist to safely cool the molten metal should a solid cover form, the workers had not noticed what had happened and did not take the measures recommended to avoid the explosion.
Bradken had only assumed control of the workplace days before the incident, but prosecutors say the duty of care to provide and maintain a safe workplace exists from day one.
WorkSafe has further announced it will begin a proactive inspection campaign in August 2008.

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