Timber mill death Victoria’s third for 2008

Victoria’s work-related death toll for 2008 has risen to three in as many weeks with a fatality at a Latrobe Valley timber mill Last Thursday.

A 35-year-old woman was crushed when a bundled pack of timber weighing about two tonnes fell on her after a lifting device jammed at the Carter Holt Harvey mill at Morwell.

WorkSafe Victoria understands the Morwell woman was removing a blockage immediately before the incident.

January is one of the worst times of year for workplace fatalities, with five deaths in January 2007. WorkSafe is currently running a statewide campaign targeting safety work around machines undergoing maintenance, repair, installation, servicing and cleaning.

“In many cases, the fact that the machinery has stopped means risks are elevated. MRISC tasks require separate procedures and risk mitigation plans,” WorkSafe general manager, Eric Windholz said.