Company fined close to $1 million over teen’s death from falling beam in Welshpool, Perth

An industrial spray painting and sandblasting company has been hit with a record fine over the death of a teenage worker.

The 16-year-old died when he was crushed by a 425kg steel beam that fell on his chest in Welshpool, Perth in June 2023.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Welshpool company cops record fine over death of teen worker.

The labourer and three other workers were moving the beam, which was suspended from an overhead monorail system by S-hooks and chain slings.

As he was pushing it, the hooks deformed under weight of the heavy load, dropping it on him and causing fatal injuries.

RPC Surface Treatment, rebranded TLC Surface Treatment, pleaded guilty to two charges of failing to ensure the health and safety of a worker.

The company was fined $975,000 in the Perth Magistrates Court, a record under WA’s workplace safety and health laws.

“The company had previously been issued a prohibition notice that had prohibited working under suspended loads, so there is no question they were aware of that risk, but the workplace had inadequate systems of work for managing it,” WorkSafe Commissioner Sally North said.

“This was a particularly tragic incident as it involved the death of a very young worker. The substantial penalty is evidence of how seriously the courts view incidents of this nature.”

The teen’s death came amid a shocking spate of fatal workplace incidents in WA, with four people dying on the job within a short period.

CFMEU state secretary Mick Buchan said at the time employers had to up their game to protect workers.

“More emphasis needs to be placed on occupational health and safety. They need to reset workplaces and invest more in safety,” he said at the time.