A fitter went into a concrete batching plant to do some repairs while the plant was still in use. As the sand he was standing on was discharged from the hopper into a mixing vehicle he was sucked down, buried by the sand and consequently asphyxiated.

There was no safe work permit taken out with the operator to do this work, and the plant had not been isolated.

It is vital that machinery be locked out so it cannot be activated when repairs are being done. This means being isolated from all energy sources.

Each year thousands of workers will risk or lose […]