Alcoa faces fine over death
Resources giant Alcoa is facing a fine of up to $200,000 over a death at its Wagerup alumina refinery five years ago.
Father-of-three Paul Herbert Fry fell about 25m to his death through a manhole while cleaning a flash tank at the refinery in September 2009.
The 50-year-old was employed by Transpacific Industrial Solutions, the company contracted by Alcoa to clean the tanks, at the time of his death.
Prosecutor John O'Sullivan said Mr Fry had been stood down for two weeks in 2006 after he ignored procedure and used a ladder to enter the bottom of a tank through a manhole.
He said Alcoa failed to eliminate the hazard after the first incident involving Mr Fry.
Pieces of scaffolding were installed across manholes to prevent employees from entering them after his death.
Mr O'Sullivan told the court manholes were an accessible attraction for employees who needed to check the progress of their work.
"The work was dirty, physically demanding and repetitive," he said.
Transpacific was fined $170,500 over the incident in 2012 for breaking Federal work safety law.
Defence lawyer Sam Vandongen said Alcoa employees were not allowed on the site while tanks were being cleaned.
He argued Transpacific employees were the "experts" and they had not alerted Alcoa to the hazard.
"It is a case of deliberate entry," he said.
Mr Fry's wife and two of his children were in court today to hear the facts of the case.
Alcoa will be penalised in Perth Magistrate's Court on Friday.
