Wife loses love of her life

Brett Gilbert. Photo / Supplied

The widow of an industrial worker killed in a horrific workplace incident last weekend has spoken of losing her best friend, soul mate and "perfect man".

Brett James Gilbert, 31, died on Saturday evening after becoming entangled in a conveyor at the James Hardie plant in Penrose, South Auckland. Police and the Department of Labour are investigating.

In a tearful eulogy at Brett's funeral on Friday, his wife Nicky spoke of losing the love of her life.

"I can't believe I am standing here speaking at my 31-year-old husband's funeral. This is really hard. We had something really special and I think that was obvious to everyone that knew us. Brett was my one true love and I will miss him forever."

The couple met on November 20, 2004, got engaged on their one-year anniversary and married on the same day in 2007.

"I have never enjoyed someone's company as much as his," said Nicky, who also told of Brett's love of music and miniature trucks. "We truly were best friends and soulmates ... for me he was the perfect man. He was loyal, loving, sensitive and strong and would do absolutely anything for me."

Nicky described her husband as thoughtful and caring and said when their son Vinnie was born two years ago she came to love and respect him more than ever.

Nicky also has a son from a previous relationship - 7-year-old Jake - and said Brett took on the role of stepfather "admirably.

"He was a fun and loving stepdad."

Brett had worked for James Hardie for about five years and two busloads of his workmates joined family and friends at Meadowbank's Purewa Crematorium.

James Hardie general manager Rob Kidd's voice cracked with emotion as he spoke of a hard-working man and "a really great guy".

"We're incredibly cut up but it's nothing compared to what Brett's family are going through. I'm so very sorry that we're meeting under these circumstances and I'm so very sorry for your loss."

On the day he died, Brett had stayed late to finish his work, Kidd said.

"Someone asked him if he would come back tomorrow to finish it. He had about three or four hours' work left. He said: 'No, I'll finish it today, it will only take a couple of hours'."

Brett's father Ron, mother Lindy and stepbrother Peter also spoke at the service.

"Brett was my friend, he was my mate, he was my buddy and he grew to be a man that I was really proud of," Ron said.

Lindy broke down as she recalled what a "neat son" Brett was.

Brett's death was the first of two in workplace incidents in five days.

Alexander Cooper, 21, died after his head became trapped in machinery at RX Plastics in Ashburton.

The Department of Labour is investigating.

Managing director Gavin Douglas said the 21-year-old, who was buried at a Wairoa marae yesterday, was "very capable and keen on his job".

TAKE CARE LAUNCH

The deaths of Brett Gilbert and Alexander Cooper came only a month after a major workplace safety campaign was launched by the Department of Labour.

Take Care, launched in February, is aimed at all workplaces, particularly those related to outdoor-based occupations such as farming and forestry.

Department spokesman Colin Patterson said all workplace deaths were disappointing but the campaign aimed to change behaviour over a longer period.

There are about 100 workplace deaths each year in New Zealand, almost all of them men.

The majority are caused by motor vehicle, machinery or water transport accidents, people being struck by fallen objects or people falling. The agriculture, forestry and fishing sectors had the highest number of deaths.

Patterson said the major cause of workplace deaths was a failure to identify hazards and not taking all possible steps to isolate or mitigate them.