An air ambulance crew prepares to take the injured worker to the Royal Melbourne Hospital following the incident at brick company Selkirk yesterday. PICTURE: JEREMY BANNISTER
A BALLARAT man was rushed to hospital with crush injuries yesterday following a workplace accident at the Selkirk brick factory.
The man, 22, was flown to the Royal Melbourne Hospital in a serious but stable condition after being trapped in a brick packaging machine for more than 90 minutes.
A WorkSafe spokeswoman said investigators would determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“It appears the man was retrieving bricks from a brick packaging machine when he has somehow become pinned by the machine’s hydraulic gate,” she said.
Ambulance Victoria spokesman John Mullen said paramedics responded to the first emergency call at 10.33am, where they found the man pinned by his shoulders, neck and head.
Mr Mullen said the man suffered spine, jaw and collarbone injuries.
He was eventually freed at 11.58am and loaded into the air ambulance at 12.09pm.
Selkirk managing director, Tony Stone, said the employee was suffering from multiple injuries but his condition was not life threatening.
“Currently our priority is with our employee, his family and his fellow colleagues,” Mr Stone said.
“We are committed to ensuring we provide a safe workplace for all our employees.”
Mr Stone said Selkirk was working with WorkCover to ensure the possibility of future incidents was minimised at the factory.