Tragic Death Just Weeks From Xmas Preventable - 11.12.17

An Engadine father has been named as the man killed after becoming trapped in an ink vat at Auburn on Thursday morning.

The 42-year-old contractor had been cleaning the ink vat at DIC headquarters in Auburn when he and two other men became trapped and injured, sparking a large response from emergency services.

The two other men, aged 28 and 29, were rescued by emergency services and taken to Westmead Hospital with leg injuries.

SafeWork NSW investigators returned to the site on Friday to work out exactly what happened, a spokesman said. “Initial inquiries indicate the mixer activated while two workers were undertaking maintenance on the tank. A third worker, aged 28, is reported to have gone to their assistance and been injured,” the spokesman said.

NSW Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation Matt Kean said the death was “totally unacceptable”. “No worker should go to work and be injured on the job, let alone lose their life,” he told Nine News. “We will do whatever is necessary to get to the bottom of what’s gone on, and hold those responsible to account.”