Family members have wept in court after hearing details of a workplace incident which claimed the life of a father of four.
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Adrian Heber died at SJ and TA Structural in Kane Road, Wodonga, on August 18, 2016.
He started a shift about 6am, and had been moving staircases weighing more than three tonnes when the incident occurred.
The Wodonga County Court on Thursday heard the 33-year-old lifted up his arm in a bid to stop a staircase sliding on top of him.
It landed on his pelvis, leaving him pinned.
Mr Heber called out for help but a second staircase landed on his ribcage.
He died of mechanical asphyxia.
A seat with a plaque bearing Mr Heber's name is still located at a lunch area at the rear of the factory.
A packed courthouse, consisting of about 15 family members and 25 staff and former employees of the business, heard director Simon Phillips enter a guilty plea to a work safety charge.
"There is genuine remorse in relation to this offence and the consequences of this offence," barrister Andrew Halse said on behalf of the company.
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Staff were offered counselling after the incident and were told to take as much time off as they needed.
Despite having to give up a $1.68 million project in Bendigo after the incident, and further considerations about closing the business, the company managed to continue without any job losses.
The incident was caused by inadequate supports on the ground collapsing, causing the steel to slide into him.
Prosecutor Duncan Chisholm said the risk could have been eliminated by not stacking the stairs and appropriate supports being used.
Eight victim impact statements were tendered from the late man's family members.
The court heard the business had been open for 25 years and had 25 employees, and had never had issues with WorkSafe other than workers sustaining minor injuries.
The court heard the business had always been open to visits from WorkSafe staff and took any suggestions on board.
"They are not the abusive ones who grumble and groan," Mr Halse said.
The company will be sentenced in the court on December 6.