Bradken worker Peter Watson, 42, died while using a Komatsu skid steer at the Wodonga business on July 22, 2014.

He was crushed by a 276-kilogram metal casting, which had a temperature of about 580 degrees and set the machine alight.

The Wodonga Magistrates Court on Monday heard the casting was so hot, water sprayed by firefighters turned to steam for several hours after the incident.

Sergeant Stewart Smith said firefighters were spraying water on the skid steer when he arrived.

“Clearly, if there was anyone in there, it was unsurvivable,” he said.

Acting Sergeant Luke Fogarty arrived 10 minutes earlier and said what he saw was “quite horrific”, with the machinery “engulfed by flames”.

Mr Watson's colleagues had tried to save him. 

The company has been charged with failing to provide and maintain a safe workplace. 

WorkSafe prosecutor Andrew Palmer told the court Bradken was using the wrong type of equipment, with the bucket too close to the operator.

“This was not the right piece of plant for the job,” he said.

Mr Palmer said there had been a risk the skid steer would cause such an incident.

“There was a risk the casting may come off and go through the window and kill or seriously injury the plant operator,” he said.

The skid steer was being operated with a six-millimetre glass screen with no protective bars or mesh at the time of the accident.

Bradken had reverted back to the glass door design without any protective bars or mesh before Mr Watson’s death. 

Forklift supplier Brian Glass said the glass had “cracked or broken a couple of times”.

Glassier Christian Schwarz said the glass would stop only low level impacts.

The court heard from seven witnesses on Monday with more witnesses due to give evidence on Tuesday.