Two directors of an engineering business in Adelaide’s south have been charged over the workplace death of a young employee in the state’s first case of alleged industrial manslaughter.
The incident claimed the life of 28-year-old Lachlan Carslake, who sustained fatal injuries while working at Nylastex Engineering Solutions, in Edwardstown, in July 2024.
It’s alleged Mr Carslake was operating a milling machine when he was struck in the head by a metal object ejected from the machine.
Following an extensive SafeWork SA investigation, it’s further alleged an interlock guarding switch designed to prevent such an incident had been disabled and/or bypassed.
Two days before Mr Carslake’s death, SafeWork SA allege, an external technician engaged by
by Nylastex Tooling had advised there were safety concerns with the guarding switch.
“The companies and its two directors had a health and safety duty to their workers,” SafeWork SA said in a statement.
“It is alleged they breached that duty by engaging in conduct with gross negligence
that caused the death of the worker, or were reckless as to the risk of death or serious
injury.”
Industrial manslaughter charges were filed in the Adelaide Magistrates Court last week against Nylastex Tooling Pty Ltd, Nylastex Holdings Pty Ltd, and the company directors – two years after Mr Carslake’s death.
A project manager employed by the company was also charged with engaging in gross negligence or reckless conduct contrary to the Work Health and Safety Act 2012.
They will each appear in court at a later date.
Mr Carslake loved fishing, dinosaurs and music, and would call his mum Louise Standfield most afternoons on his way home from work.
He loved Green Day and beaten-up cars, and would do anything for the people he loved.
“If you were upset he would always come and give you a hug – even on his bad days, he would give you a hug,” Ms Standfield said.
“I always got a phone call at 4:55pm when he was driving home. I’m still waiting for him to come through the door, or ring me, or text me to say ‘listen to this mum’ because he was always sending me music.”
Tahlia Benvegnu-Carslake – Mr Carslake’s partner of eight years when he died – said on their last night together, he surprised her with flowers when he arrived home from work.
“He brought me flowers, just for no reason,” she said. “I didn’t really see him the next morning, we just usually say bye and then he leaves.”
On its website, Nylastex describes itself as an Australian-owned and operated “advanced precision” engineering company that opened in 1990.
The family-owned business has more than 40 employees at its Edwardstown factory, providing machinery processes and services to a wide range of industries including agriculture, space, defence and mining.
During the Covid pandemic, they worked closely with the Detmold Group to establish and launch a face mask production facility. Within 16 weeks, the factory was manufacturing 750,000 masks per day.
It has also worked on the Collins class submarines, according to the Defence SA website.
Industrial manslaughter became a criminal offence in South Australia on July 1, 2024.
Individuals face a maximum penalty of 20 years’ jail if convicted, while the maximum
fine for a corporation is $18m.
Nylastex has been contacted for comment.