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Court “soft” on safety breach penatly for crane company

The Western Australian Supreme Court’s decision to halve crane company D&G Hoist’s $180,000 fine for breaching workplace safety laws, which resulted in the death of a 22-year old worker in 2007, was “too light” a punishment, according to the deceased’s parents, ” The West Australian reports.

Luke Murrie, had only been working at the Malaga yard for only a few weeks when a 375kg stack of gear fell on him, resulting in his death.

The company was initially fined $180,000, which included a $90,000 fine for the company, and $45,000 each for of the two directors, David Keating and Luigi "Gino" Decesare.

The penalty was reduced to a total $90,000, $70,000 for the company and $10,000 for the directors on appeal earlier this year.

Western Australia’s safety watchdog, WorkSafe, is appealing against the Supreme Court’s decision.

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