Richard Barker coronial inquest starts in Launceston

The Launceston Magistrates court heard evidence from retired Tasmania Police Constable Phil Midson.

Mr Midson undertook forensic investigation of the site following Mr Barker’s death. 

The court heard on the day of Mr Barker’s death he was standing underneath a hopper cutting one of the panels when the structure came down.  

“[One of] the panels did not appear to be fixed to the base of [the] plant,” Mr Midson said.

Mr Midson’s observations of the site led him to believe the base plate should have been fixed to the plant but “it did not appear to be attached in anyway, it was just resting on it”. 

“The panel that fell didn’t have any fixing at the points,” he said. 

The panel that remained had four bolts holding it. 

Former Bis Industries Bell Bay manager Grant Hamilton also gave evidence on Monday. 

He told the court Mr Barker was hired as a contractor through ATH and had been working at the site for about five weeks. 

Mr Barker’s main duty was lubricating and greasing trucks at the Temco site, located 700 metres from the Bis Industries site. 

During quiet periods, Mr Barker was expected to help tradesman and collect scrap steel, using a forklift, from the South and West boundaries of the Bis Industries site. 

Mr Hamilton said he did not know Mr Barker was undertaking any cutting work until he read affidavits from other employees. 

Mr Hamilton said he did not make any inquiries into whether Mr Barker had been undertaking cutting work prior to his death.