Bassendean-based private business Hofmann Engineering has been fined $567,000 over the death of an employee at its fabrication workshop in 2019.
Bassendean-based private business Hofmann Engineering has been fined $567,000 over the death of an employee at its fabrication workshop in 2019.
In Perth Magistrates Court yesterday, Hofmann pleaded guilty to failing to provide and maintain a safe workplace, and by that failure, causing the death of an employee.
The family-owned engineering firm was fined $567,000 and ordered to pay costs of $28,695.
The 2019 incident occurred at Hofmann’s fabrication workshop where Nam Huu Nguyen was welding large gear segments with the aid of a welding manipulator.
The boom of the welding manipulator, weighing 1,350 kilograms, fell suddenly causing fatal injuries, according to the state’s workplace regulator WorkSafe.
WorkSafe Commissioner Sally North said the case was a reminder of the crucial importance of regular inspection and maintenance of machinery in workplaces.
“The court found that the machinery involved in his incident had not been adequately maintained and had also been sitting unused in storage for several years, exposing it to foreign materials such as dust,” she said.
“When independent experts inspected the welding manipulator, they confirmed the threads on the nuts involved in holding up the boom were worn to such an extent that they were unable to maintain the load placed on them.
“In addition, grease on the lead screw was grossly contaminated with foreign fine solid material to the point where it was having a negative effect on the screw.”
WorkSafe said the court was told there was no manufacturer’s manual or maintenance logbook kept for the welding manipulator, which was four-decades old.
The regulator said the court agreed the incident was caused by a lack of reasonably practicable safety measures.
“The tragic outcome of the company’s failure to implement safe work procedures should serve as a warning to all employers with heavy machinery at their workplaces to conduct regular inspections and maintenance in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and take action to eliminate or minimise any risks to workers’ safety,” Ms North said.
In a statement, Hofmann said they continued to express their deepest and most heartfelt condolences to Nam's family, friends, and colleagues.
"No words can adequately capture the sorrow we feel for their loss, and we are truly sorry for the pain this has caused," it read.
"Since the incident, we have taken significant steps to review our safety processes to ensure that something like this can never happen again.
"This incident has profoundly impacted our company, and we are determined to ensure that it results in lasting change.
"Safety is not just a priority—it is a value that guides every decision we make.
"We hope that through our actions, we can honour Nam’s memory."
Hofmann Engineering was established in 1969, and prides itself on being a third-generation family business based in Bassendean.
In marking the private company’s 50th anniversary, Hofmann dedicated a book published to Mr Nguyen.
“As a family company, we lost one of our own and we are doing all that we can to ensure that no other family ever suffers as Nam’s family have suffered,” the book’s foreword stated.
Hofmann employs 593 workers, according to its latest annual report.
It brought in sales revenue of $217.8 million, up from $182.6 million in 2023.
