Antony’s plea for safety
A CORIO man who had part of his finger amputated following a workplace accident is pleading with employers to take workplace safety and training seriously.
Antony Daniels had to undergo four surgeries after he tried to unblock a high-pressure paint gun by placing his finger over the nozzle and accidentally blasting zinc into his finger.
“The pain of it was like I had jammed my finger in a door and someone was slamming the door repeatedly,” Mr Daniels said.
The 25-year-old said he did not receive training on how to unblock the gun before beginning work at a small industrial coating business in Geelong more than two years ago.
“I believe my injury could have been quite easily avoided.
“It shouldn’t be employees’ responsibility to ask about training. Employers should provide proper training and inductions.”
He said he was not warned about how much force to expect out of the high-pressure paint gun.
Mr Daniels said his life changed forever after the incident which happened two weeks after he began working at the business in 2016.
After rehabilitation and multiple visits to specialists and doctors, Mr Daniels has returned to work in a similar industry.
But he now has difficulty using a keyboard, a fork and knife and applying masking tape to products he’s working on.
“(The accident) has robbed me of the ability to play instruments,” Mr Daniels said.
Maurice Blackburn Geelong lawyer Simone Grieve said that there were too many businesses and employers not taking workplace safety seriously.
“Maintaining safe workplaces and preventing accidents from occurring in the first place must remain front of mind for employers and employees,” Ms Grieve said.
Ms Grieve said employers should regularly complete risk assessments for potential hazards, provide standardised safety equipment and training for workers and ensure equipment is in good working order.