A fund has been set up to support the family of Craig Tanner, who lost his life in a tragic accident last week, during a routine ink vat cleaning operation at DIC in Auburn.
DIC is the country’s biggest ink manufacturer for the printing industry, its Auburn plant is its main manufacturing site. The company has made no comment as to whether the accident and the ongoing investigation will impact on ink supply.
The fund’s initial target of $30,000 has already been surpassed, so far some $47,000 has been raised by the Tanner Family Foundation. Click here to make a donation.
Initial reports say Tanner and two other workers were inside the vat cleaning when the blade turned on. A desperate struggle to save the men then occurred with multiple emergency responders, who managed after several hours to extricate two of the workers, however Tanner did not survive and died at the scene. His two colleagues were rushed to hospital with multiple leg fractures.
The father of three lived in Engadine, and leaves behind a wife and three young boys between the ages of 3-7. He had worked for Qantas as a mechanical engineer prior to leaving to start his own industrial cleaning business, Complete Blasting Solutions.
Safe Work NSW says, “SafeWork NSW is investigating an incident on Thursday, 7 December where three male workers were trapped in a mixing tank at an ink manufacturing plant on Chisolm Road, Auburn.
“Initial inquiries indicate the mixer activated while two workers were undertaking maintenance on the tank. A third worker, aged 28 is reported to have gone to their assistance and been injured.
“A 29-year-old worker that was undertaking maintenance on the tank was freed by emergency services while the other worker, aged 42, was trapped by the mixer’s blade and passed away from injuries he sustained.
“Engineering experts from SafeWork’s TestSafe division will inspect the mixer in an effort to determine the cause of the incident.
“SafeWork’s investigation remains ongoing.”
The Australian Workers Manufacturing Union (AMWU) is also conducting its own private investigation, as one of the men was a union member.
A spokesperson from the AMWU says, “We do not wish to comment while the investigation is ongoing. We have been on site several times, after the accident, and returning since.”
The Tanner Family Foundation says, “Tragically, Craig lost his life in a freak work accident just weeks out from Christmas and leaves behind his loving wife Rachel and their three beautiful boys – Harper, aged 7, Flynn aged 5 and Ollie aged 3.
“Craig was an amazing guy – loved by all, kind, generous, funny and smart. Most importantly he adored his wife Rachel and his three boys more than anything. Let’s get together and all dig deep to lessen the financial burden left on this amazing family.
“Please donate any amount large or small to Rachel and the kids to help with ongoing bills and to make sure that financial burden isn’t something they have to think about during this tragic time.”
A service for Craig Tanner is to be held on Tuesday December 19 at 11:00am, St Paul’s Anglican Church, 2 Broughton Pl Barden Ridge, NSW.
A wake will follow, with the location to be confirmed.
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