CFMEU FFPD Assistant National Secretary Leo Skourdoumbis said today that the union’s members at the site were shocked and saddened by the tragedy.
Union officials have inspected the site of the accident this morning.
“It appears Mr. Wheeler was working back after the workforce had left for the day, attempting to move a pane of glass on his own using suction,” Mr. Skourdoumbis said.
“Something went wrong and panes of glass weighing nearly a ton fell on Mr. Wheeler.”
“On behalf of all CFMEU members around Australia may I express our condolences to the family of Mr. Wheeler.”
“This tragedy highlights how dangerous glass can be in industrial quantities. A huge number of the injuries and fatalities that have occurred in the glass industry have happened with workers working on their own.”
“The union would remind its members in the industry and the broader community that working with glass ‘one out’ is highly dangerous and should occur only in extremely limited circumstances.”
