Apprentice Set Alight By Bully Workmates
The Age
Tuesday October 19, 1999
A 16-year-old apprentice mechanic was tied to a pole, set alight and sprayed in the eyes with an accelerant by workmates in a series of incidents at a Frankston car yard, a court was told yesterday.
Mr Lee Jones was harassed and abused while working for Peninsula Prestige Cars in Frankston from November 1995 to May 1997, the Frankston Magistrates Court was told.
Prosecutor for the Victorian WorkCover Authority, Mr Kevin Armstrong, told the court that in one incident Mr Jones was bound with masking tape, sprayed with accelerant, thrown inside a 60-litre empty oil drum and set alight.
The workers, including Mr Scott Chambers, then threw beer over him to extinguish the flames.
In November 1996, another employee, Mr Shaun Mathers, forced Mr Jones into a cardboard box, taped it up and then drove holes in it with a screwdriver, the court was told.
Other employees kicked the box around before spraying a substance in one of his eyes, which forced him to go to hospital for half-a-day.
The court was told Mr Jones received medical attention in May 1997 after he was struck in the arm when one of the workers drove a car at him at high speed in the garage.
An employee told investigators they were practical jokes to scare junior workers.
The car dealership, Peninsula Prestige Cars Pty Ltd, pleaded guilty to three charges of failing to provide adequate information, instruction, training and supervision in relation to harassment and abuse of employees.
Two employees, Mr Scott Chambers and Mr Terry Fulton, will face charges of failing to take reasonable care for the health and safety of other employees and deliberately putting at risk the health and safety of other employee.
Mr Brian Collis, QC, for the company, said senior managers were shocked and horrified when they learned of the incidents.
The magistrate, Ms Heather Spooner, convicted the company and fined it $45,000 on all charges.
Mr Jones said he had been too distressed to attend the hearing and was trying to get on with his life.
``I just couldn't bring myself to go in," he said. ``Hopefully, they'll learn to provide a safe workplace."
© 1999 The Age