A 19-year-old man has died after an industrial accident at the Baiada poultry plant near Tamworth in north-west NSW.
The accident involving a piece of machinery took place early Monday morning.
Acting Inspector David Wheatley from NSW Police said WorkCover was investigating the incident.
“It’s [also] subject to a coronial investigation and a report will be prepared for the coroner,” he said.
“The driver of the particular device at the time was taken for mandatory blood and urine [tests] at Tamworth Base Hospital, and results are pending in relation to those tests.”
Police said the 19-year-old had recently relocated to the region from the Manning area on the Mid North Coast.
Tributes have been flowing for the victim on social media.
“[I] know the family personally, they’ve been ripped in half,” one post said.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Baiada Poultry said the company was “truly saddened” by the accident.
“The whole team at Baiada Poultry extends our deepest and sincere condolences to the young man’s family and friends, as well as to staff and management at the farm.”
“We are undertaking our own investigation and will be assisting the police and SafeWork in every way we can with their work.”
Side note: Baiada is owned by one of Australia’s richest families and produce the Lilydale Select and Steggles brand to retailers including Coles, Woolworths, IGA, Aldi, McDonald’s, KFC, Pizza Hut, Red Rooster, Nando’s and Subway.
The company has never been far from controversy having been embroiled in scandals involving deceptively selling chicken products as “free range” and the exploitation of migrant workers.
Some years back Monit was invited to develop a workplace health and safety product for Baiada but after researching their psychosocial workplace environment decided to decline the offer. There has been many deaths since.
Source: ABC News
