Vic: Beer giant Fosters fined $1.125 million over worker's death

AAP General News (Australia)
08-05-2008
Vic: Beer giant Fosters fined $1.125 million over worker's death

Outside court, John Merritt, executive director of health and safety at WorkSafe Victoria,
said the fine was the second biggest in Victorian history.

"The reason this fine is so high is that sadly the company was warned about this matter,
there had been a similar incident some time before, the problem had been identified and
the problem wasn't fixed," Mr Merritt said.

"This problem was known and it wasn't fixed until a man died - that is what makes this
case so serious."

General Manager of Fosters Abbotsford plant Michael Stoneman delivered a short statement
outside court.

"I would just like to say at Fosters we are shocked and saddened by this terrible tragedy,"

Mr Stoneman said.

"Our heart goes out to Cuu's family, they have lost a husband, they have lost a father
and our workmates have lost a very respected member of Abbotsford workforce.

"Please be ensured that at Fosters we have done everything possible to ensure that
this will never, ever happen again."

AAP df/jm/de

KEYWORD: FOSTERS 2 MELBOURNE (REOPENS)

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