Scarred for life by ‘prank’

By Melissa Meehan
A WORKPLACE ‘prank’ in Hallam ended in a $5000 fine and a lifetime of regret for two young men last week.
The choice to set their friend alight was described by Dandenong Magistrate Peter Reardon as going “far beyond larrikin behaviour” when they ignited brake-cleaning fluid sprayed on an apprentice who had only been working with them for three days.
He said Robin Daniel Marshall, 20, of Beaconsfield and 19-year-old Dylan Poulton of Nar Nar Goon had been disciplined the previous day for setting brake fluid alight, and it was inevitable that someone would be hurt.
A third man is yet to face court.
Marshall and Poulton both pleaded guilty to workplace health and safety charges and were each convicted and fined $5000.
The court was told the young worker, 17 at the time of the 9 January incident, was off work for several months with first, second and third degree burns which required surgery, the application of artificial skin and physiotherapy.
The two men before the court this week were sacked – yet remain friends with the injured man.
WorkSafe’s executive director (Health and Safety), John Merritt, said it was the latest in a string of recent prosecutions involving workplace pranks.
“Along with WorkSafe’s current campaign urging young workers to speak up about safety concerns, this case, and others like it, is a warning that there are consequences for breaching safety laws.
“Young workers do not need to deal with people playing pranks which puts them, and others, at risk.”
The Hallam business was not charged, because the judge saw that the company had done everything in its power to stop the incident from occurring.
“In this case a young man has suffered serious burns and he still carries the scars,” he said.
“To be remorseful after something happens is appropriate, but these incidents shouldn’t happen at all.
“For everyone involved, the consequences can last a life-time.”