Workers undertaking potentially risky or dangerous tasks are being reminded that they ‘can say no’ following the recent tragic death of a team member from the West Coast Council this week.
The man in his 30s lost his life at Frank Long Park in Zeehan after losing control of a ride-on mower and becoming trapped underneath it on Monday.
The Australian Services Union (ASU) is now urging workers to prioritise their safety in the wake of the incident, with Victoria and Tasmania coordinator Sam Batchelor emphasising the importance of safe working conditions.
“This death marks our greatest fears … No one should ever leave for work and not come home. Every workplace death is an unimaginable tragedy,” Batchelor said.
“All councils and workplaces performing similar work should stop and immediately check of their systems of workplace safety.”
She also reminded workers that ‘if they believe the work they are doing is dangerous and there is an immediate risk to health and safety, they can refuse to do the work’.
“Work Safe Tasmania need to do a thorough investigation.”
Frank Long Park will continue to remain open to the public.
Community in shock after young Tasmanian council worker killed in mower incident
The West Coast mayor says a “terrible incident” that claimed the life of a young council worker has left the entire community “in shock”.
The man, in his 30s, tragically passed away after emergency services found him trapped beneath a mower at Frank Long Park in Zeehan shortly before 5pm on Monday.
Mayor Shane Pitt said “no one expects their loved ones not to come home from work”.
“We will provide every support necessary to those affected by this tragedy, including the family, friends, and employees and contractors of the Council.”
The incident is currently under investigation by Worksafe Tasmania, who say the worker became trapped under the mower when it ‘lost balance on uneven ground’.
Man killed in tragic mower incident at memorial park in Zeehan
A tragic incident involving a mower has resulted in the death of a man in Zeehan on Tasmania’s west coast this afternoon.
Emergency services discovered the man, who was in his 30s, trapped beneath the machine in a memorial park shortly before 5pm on Monday.
He sadly died at the scene.
It is understood the man was undertaking maintenance works when the incident occurred.
Police say WorkSafe Tasmania have been notified and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
