Nylastex Tooling bosses in court over worker’s death in landmark Adelaide case

Manufacturing bosses have appeared in court over the death of one of their workers in the first case of its kind in South Australia.

Graham and Winifred Philips and Graham Rowe of Edwardstown-based Nylastex Tooling have faced court for the first time following the death of Lachlan Carslake in 2024.

Mr and Ms Philips face charges of industrial manslaughter and recklessly exposing an individual to the risk of death, as does their Nylastex Tooling and Nylastex Holding companies.

Mr Rowe faces lesser charges of exposing an individual to the risk of death and failing to comply with health and safety duty.

The landmark case is the first time in South Australia that a company or individual has faced prosecution for industrial manslaughter.

It relates to a tragic incident on July 24, 2024 when Mr Carslake was allegedly “struck in the head by a metal object” while operating milling machinery at Nylastex Tooling’s Edwardstown plant.

During a short hearing at Adelaide Magistrates Court on Friday, the defendants stood alongside one another in the dock but were not required to speak.

The court was told prosecutors had supplied evidence files to the respective defence teams before the case was adjourned.

The charges were laid by SafeWorkSA under a recent amendment to the World Health and Safety Act, which introduced industrial manslaughter as an indictable offence in South Australia.

Individuals charged with the offence can face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, while a company can be fined up to $18m if it isfound to be reckless or grossly negligent.

Originally published as Nylastex Tooling bosses in court over worker’s death in landmark Adelaide case