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Alcan pleads guilty for catapult death

ALCAN could be fined up to $1.1m, after pleading guilty to two workplace health and safety charges in relation to the death of one of its workers in 2007.

Daniel Burman died at the Nhunlunbuy mine site when he was catapulted from a raised platform after a cherry picker fell over.

According to evidence tendered at the court, a safety check of the cherry picker had been overdue. If this check had been carried out on time, it would have picked up the faults with the machine.

Alcan had started checking the unit the day before the accident, but called it off because of windy conditions.

Burman had not been wearing his safety harness properly, and the court was told this was a major contributor to the fatality.

The company has three prior convictions for similar safety breaches. It pleaded guilty to failing to maintain the machine properly, and for not ensuring proper training for its workers.

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