Hofmann Engineering fatality: AMWU walks back ‘lack of worker support’ claims after death of apprentice

The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union has walked back claims made after a workplace death in Bassendean last week. A 45-year-old mature-age apprentice died at Hofmann Engineering’s factory on September 8 after being crushed by machinery inside a workshop. The AMWU claimed on the day that employees had been told to stay working after the death and warned they would be docked pay if they left. However, the union has since admitted it was misinformed. “The company has continued to pay all workers that have taken time off as a result of this tragedy and no-one has been forced to remain at work,” AMWU State secretary Steve McCartney said. Hofmann said employees were immediately offered counselling after the death and assured that they would be fully paid, including overtime, if they opted to go home. The company has also paid for the dead worker’s family to fly to Perth from South Korea. It is Hofmann’s second workplace death in the past six years, with another employee killed in 2019 after he was also crushed by machinery. Hofmann pleaded guilty in November to failing to maintain a safe workplace over that fatality and was fined $567,000. Despite the deaths, WA Premier Roger Cook insists he still has confidence in the company’s ability to deliver on Federal defence contracts. The company was last month chosen as the first Australian company to provide parts for US Navy nuclear aircraft carriers. It is also in line to supply components for US nuclear submarines. The latest death is being investigated by WorkSafe.