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Introduction
Unions have condemned the death of a 45-year-old apprentice at Hofmann Engineering’s Bassendean factory in Perth, calling it a “preventable tragedy.” The fatality marks the second death at the same site in just six years, sparking renewed concerns about workplace safety standards at the family-run business.
Details of the Incident
The victim, a first-year apprentice and father from Piara Waters, was wrapping a six-metre forging ring in plastic when the three-tonne component slipped and crushed him. Emergency services were called to the site around 2:40pm on September 9, but the man could not be saved.
Colleagues who witnessed the accident were visibly shaken, returning to work the following day where counselling was offered.
Union Response
Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union state secretary Steve McCartney described the incident as entirely avoidable:
“This is a three-tonne bit of equipment that was put on the wrong place at the wrong time.”
He emphasised that the apprentice had made a mid-life career change, leaving his chef’s job to spend more time with his 10-year-old daughter. The man, originally from Korea, had been granted permanent residency just two years earlier.
History of Fatalities at the Site
This is the second workplace death at Hofmann Engineering’s Bassendean facility in six years. In 2019, a 46-year-old worker was crushed by machinery weighing more than a tonne, prompting a prosecution and fine against the company.
WorkSafe WA has confirmed it is investigating the latest fatality and expressed concern over repeated deaths at the site.
Political Reaction
WA Premier Roger Cook said the tragedy underscored the duty of care owed by all employers:
“Every employer has responsibility to keep their team safe.”
The incident comes just a month after Hofmann Engineering received state government funds to support bids for overseas contracts, adding pressure on authorities to explain how a company with prior safety failures secured public support.
Conclusion
The apprentice’s death highlights persistent risks in heavy industrial workplaces and raises questions about whether lessons were learned after the 2019 fatality. With a grieving family, a traumatised workforce, and a second WorkSafe investigation underway, the spotlight is once again on Hofmann Engineering’s safety culture and regulatory oversight.