THE story of a mother battling for answers into her son's death in a workplace incident was sad reading.
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Richard Barker was 43 when he was killed at an industrial site at Bell Bay a year ago tomorrow.
The past 12 months has been a torrid time for his mother Peggy Barker, battling a vast and complicated system that investigates workplace fatalities.
The investigation into any workplace death is certainly a complex area that cannot be rushed. An investigation can involve several entities including police, the coroner's office and an independent workplace body.
But while those investigations occur, it is important that impacted families are keep up to date on progress.
It should not be left up to the kindness and goodwill of parents who have been in similar positions to make contact and offer support and advice.
Victims of crime have access to free and confidential services through the Justice Department, that help explain rights and legal procedures or just give advice about how or where to seek support.
Victims of road accidents have the Road Trauma Support group, partially funded by the Motor Accident Insurance Board with in- kind support from the Health and Human Services Department, to turn to for advice and counselling.
While there are thankfully not as many workplace deaths as there are victims of crime or road trauma, Mrs Barker's plight and that of several other parents or partners over the years show some similar service is required. If not on a full-time basis then at least as needed.
Dealing with the death of a loved one must be difficult enough without the added burden of dealing with a large bureaucracy which, while probably not deliberately complicated, becomes so because of its size and procedures.
Somewhere in those investigative bodies should be someone whose role is the liaise with families - if they exist now, then they are certainly not widely known about. If the process could be simplified or demystified, it might relieve a small amount of pressure.