A family has urged employers to think twice before taking deadly risks following the death of their 25-year-old son Michael Tsahrelias in a forklift incident at work.
Tsahrelias was working as a contractor on site with his father Steve at Universal Stone and Marble at Somerton, Melbourne in October 2021, when the company’s owner, Laith Hanna, was driving a forklift carrying a metal A-frame.
Hanna turned the forklift on a downhill slope while carrying the load as it hung suspended about two metres off the ground. This went against safety standards.
According to Nine News, Tsahrelias tried to steady the forklift, but it lost balance, tipped over and crushed him. Hanna screamed for help and Tsahrelias’ father found him crushed under the machine.
Tsahrelias’ father was among those who attempted to revive his son, but he died at the scene.
On Monday, February 19, the case was before the Supreme Court, where Judge Michael Croucher sentenced Hanna to a two-year community corrections order, where he will have to complete 200 hours of community service.
Hanna’s company, Holding Management Pty Ltd, was also fined $1.3 million in the state’s first workplace manslaughter prosecution.
The Tsahrelias’ family lawyer, Tony Carbone, said the family wanted employers to stop taking risks to avoid further tragedies.
“Don’t leave anything to chance. Just stop (and think), ‘is everyone clear? Is it safe?'” he said to reporters outside the court.
Hanna will also be required to pay $120,000 in compensation to Tsahrelias’ sister.
Source: Nine News.
