A workplace accident that claimed a young worker’s life seemed over… until a shocking twist two years later put the case back in the spotlight
A major legal development has emerged two years after a fatal workplace accident at an Adelaide business.
An Edwardstown manufacturing group and its directors have been charged with South Australia’s first industrial manslaughter offences, two years after a worker was killed.
Lachlan Carslake, 28, was operating a milling machine at Nylastex Engineering Solutions on July 24, 2024, when a metal object was ejected from the machine and struck him in the head.
He died in hospital three days later.
SafeWork SA has now confirmed charges were filed in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on July 23, 2026, following a lengthy investigation.
Two companies — Nylastex Tooling Pty Ltd and Nylastex Holdings Pty Ltd — along with their directors, have been charged with industrial manslaughter.
A project manager has also been charged with a Category 1 offence of gross negligence or reckless conduct.
Investigators allege an interlock guarding switch designed to prevent objects being ejected from the machine had been disabled or bypassed. They further allege an external technician warned the company about safety concerns with the switch two days before the fatal incident.
SafeWork SA says the companies and directors owed a health and safety duty to their workers and allegedly breached that duty through conduct amounting to gross negligence or recklessness.
Industrial manslaughter became a criminal offence in South Australia on July 1, 2024. Individuals face up to 20 years’ imprisonment, while corporations face fines of up to $18 million.
The defendants are expected to appear in court at a later date. SafeWork SA says it cannot comment further while the matter is before the courts.
The AMWU previously criticised the company’s safety standards, saying investigations after a fatality “aren’t going to bring them back”.
Nylastex had earlier offered its “thoughts and prayers” to the worker’s loved ones, saying it was trying to understand what happened.
SOURCE: 7 NEWS
https://7news.com.au/news/industrial-manslaughter-charges-laid-over-fatal-2024-adelaide-workplace-accident-c-22634952
