The man died at a Nylastex Engineering Solutions plant in suburban Adelaide weeks after industrial manslaughter became a criminal offence in South Australia in 2024.
Nylastex directors Geoffrey Crawford Philips and Winifred Jane Philips appeared on Friday in Adelaide Magistrates Court charged with industrial manslaughter.
The company is also charged with industrial manslaughter over the incident at the Edwardstown plant on July 24, 2024.
Graham Kevin Rowe, a project manager employed by Nylastex, has been charged with recklessly exposing a person to risk of death or serious injury, under the Work Health and Safety Act.
No pleas have been entered at this early stage.
A SafeWork SA investigation has alleged that a safety switch on a milling machine was disabled, allowing it to operate at dangerous speeds with a moveable guard left open.
It is alleged the worker, Lachlan Carslake, was operating the machine when he was struck in the head by a metal object that had been ejected from the machine.
Investigators allege that an external technician warned the company about the disabled switch only two days before Mr Carslake was killed.
The matter was referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who laid the charges.
Industrial manslaughter became a criminal offence in SA on July 1, 2024.
Individuals face a maximum penalty of 20 years' prison while the maximum fine for a corporate entity is $18 million.
Nylastex is an advanced manufacturing company that provides precision machining processes and services to a range of industries.
An online fundraiser to support Mr Carslake's family raised $13,725.
In a statement, SA Unions secretary Dale Beasley said: "Every single workplace death is preventable".
"Seeing the first charges laid for industrial manslaughter should make it crystal clear in the mind of every employer that cutting corners on safety is a crime which can land you in jail," he said.
The matter returns to court for charge determination on December 15.
Magistrate Ben Sale indicated that a committal hearing would also likely be held on the same day.
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