Contributed from Western Australia

A man fell into a 4-metre trench at Perth’s Mosman Park yesterday and died. He was stuck and drowned in the water rising about halfway up.

This was called an accident. But it begs the questions, why was the water there in the first place, and why immediate action to prevent an accident apparently not taken. Is this a case of a safety breach on the job?

One man did not get the opportunity to return home to his wife and kids. and it is not a once-off.

It happens again and again around Australia, and in most cases, it is easily preventable, especially if many construction workers underwent c2c first aid training or the likes.

In this case, it took eight hours to retrieve the body. Imagine the trauma to his workmates. They tried to get him out, as he screamed that his leg was stuck. When the water rose over his head, others at the scene passed him hose, to breathe through, as he went underwater. In the end, they couldn’t save him.

A report is being prepared for the coroner. A report is being prepared for the coroner. This is all very good. But how many accidents, how many Worksafe investigations and coroners’ reports are needed before something serious is done about preventable deaths in the workplace.

It is already known that many, if not most deaths at work occur because of unsafe conditions provided by the employer, or inadequate training. There are safety laws that spell out the minimum required. But when these are flouted, the penalty is no more than a slap on the wrist. An employer found guilty is fined. This is not much of a disincentive.

A major reduction in workplace deaths will only come about, if when they are found to be the result of negligence, whoever is responsible is convicted under an industrial manslaughter charge. This would mean the possibility of a prison sentence.

Safety should always come first.

Workplace accidents can have devastating consequences. If you have experienced an injury in the workplace, it is important that you learn more about workers compensation lawyers in order to get the compensation you and your family deserve. However, there have recently been advancements in workplace safety to prevent this sort of thing from happening. Some industrial warehouses and businesses have started installing matting on the floors of their buildings to prevent slips and falls. These sorts of mats can be found from California Industrial Rubber Co. store and other places similar. These preventative measures can save people’s lives, so it’s important that other industrial businesses consider installing some mats into their buildings to keep their workforce safe.

Furthermore, a serious accident can leave you unable to attend work and, in the worst-case scenario, lead to financial worries. One way to protect your family from money troubles is by taking out disability insurance. Nowadays, there is no need for an exam for disability insurance so there is no reason why you cannot take out a policy today and get peace of mind.