A beloved 25-year-old Great Southern footballer was one of two men killed in separate workplace incidents on Thursday – as the State recorded seven fatalities in five weeks.
Todd Retallack was working as a labourer on the roof of Katanning machinery dealer McIntosh & Son when he fell from the skylight about 9.40am.
He was rushed to Katanning Hospital by St John about 10.30am before being airlifted to Royal Perth Hospital by the RAC Rescue helicopter.
He arrived about 2.30pm but sadly died later that afternoon from his critical injuries.
Mr Retallack had played league football for Boxwood Hill in the Ongerup Football Association but was unable to play the 2024 season due to concussion issues.
Boxwood Hill Football Club president Shane Davy said his sudden passing had “shaken up” teammates and supporters and was “devastating” for the community.
Mr Davy said he would be remembered for his “cheeky grin, no fuss attitude, and love of life”.
“On behalf of the Boxwood Hills Football Club, supporters, the community, and the surrounding districts, our hearts go out to his friends and the Retallack family,” he said, sharing his sincere condolences.
“We’re all around to help you get through the tragic time.”
It’s understood he had been indirectly contracted for a construction project at the site.
Just hours after the Katanning incident, a truck driver was crushed when the prime mover he was working under in Narrikup rolled onto him.
Two ambulance crews were called to Zambonetti Transport’s worksite on Settlement Road at 4.07pm but the 45-year-old couldn’t be saved and died at the scene.
WorkSafe is investigating both incidents, and police will prepare reports for the coroner.
WorkSafe Commissioner Sally North labelled the incidents “tragic and unacceptable”. They mark seven workplace deaths in a period of less than six weeks.
“I strongly urge anyone in charge of a business or undertaking to conduct an urgent risk assessment to understand the specific critical risks in their workplaces,” Ms North said.
“When the critical risks are identified, controls should be put in place that will minimise or eliminate them.
“Senior management also have a duty to check that the controls effectively reduce the risks, and this should be done in consultation with workers.”
The trucking incident also marked the seventh fatality involving a mobile plant reported to Worksafe in 2024, which is across mining, construction and general workplaces. Of those, two involved a crane.
Mobile plants can also include forklifts, elevating work platforms, delivery vehicles, order pickers, earth-moving equipment and prime movers.
Adrian Fariña Pacheco, a 59-year-old experienced rigger working for AR Construction, died when he was struck by a steel beam being lifted by a crane at a Malaga construction site on July 2. A GoFundMe set up to assist his devastated wife raised almost $23,000.
On July 23, truck driver Craig Van Uden, 57, was on a routine job collecting a skip bin for company Hastie Waste in the front yard of a home in Donnybrook when he was crushed. He was remembered as a “funny, kind and caring” father and friend.
Tree lopper Mika Tua, 29, was killed on the same day after his tools hit powerlines on Lillian Road in Maida Vale.
Just two days later on July 25, two pilots died when their helicopters collided while they were undertaking cattle mustering east of Broome. The incident is under investigation by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.
On April 3, young Perth father Frayza Ryan and Italian expat Federico Parazzoli died on the same day in separate workplace incidents.
Young father Frayza Ryan, 32, was crushed while in the basket of an aerial work platform at an O’Connor construction site managed by Sarich Building.
Federico Parazzoli was killed when it is understood he was hit and crushed by a forklift carrying a heavy concrete block at concrete manufacturer Dallcon’s Dalwallinu site.
Their deaths came just over a fortnight after Bayswater Station worker Fengwen Geng was killed when he was struck by a car while napping in a park on his lunch break.
If you or someone you know needs support, you can contact MATES in Construction WA via the 24-hour helpline at 1300 642 111.