Former road maintenance worker Glenn Dorain set to sue Brimbank Council after spider bite

A council worker in Melbourne’s west whose life was “forever changed” when he was bitten by a white-tail spider is taking legal action, alleging the council showed little regard for his and his colleagues’ welfare.

Glenn Dorain is planning to sue Brimbank Council over alleged workplace safety failures. Picture: Josie Hayden

A former council worker who had part of his foot amputated after a spider bite says his colleagues were offered bug spray when they raised concerns about workplace safety.

Glenn Dorain was employed by Brimbank Council as a road maintenance worker when he was bitten by a white-tail spider while swapping into work boots in the locker room at the council yards in Keilor Park in April last year.

Mr Dorain knew he had been bitten but did not think much of it until two weeks later when it became infected, leading to the amputation of his little toe and part of his foot.

At a meeting after the incident, Mr Dorain’s colleagues allegedly asked for the locker room to be fumigated by a professional pest control service.

Mr Dorain had part of his foot amputated after a spider bite. Picture: Josie Hayden

But he said they were instead offered cans of bug spray.

Mr Dorain, who had previously been bitten by a bug at work, said the council had shown little regard for his and his colleagues’ welfare.

“There seemed to be very little concern for my injury … and there were no efforts made to fumigate the area regularly,” he said.

“I only hope the council will take more action and accountability to ensure something like this can’t happen again to any of the other workers.”

Mr Dorain had his little toe and part of his foot amputated.

He said there was ‘very little concern’ for his injury.

Mr Dorain, who is aged in his 60s and worked for the council for more than 20 years maintaining roads in Melbourne’s west, has been unable to work since he was bitten and is preparing legal action against his former employer.

He said he suffers ongoing physical pain and mental trauma and is no longer able to enjoy hobbies such as golf or going to the football.

“I don’t think I’ll ever be able to work in the same capacity again, my job was very physical and I cannot get in and out of heavy machinery anymore,” he said.

“My life has been forever changed. I can only get around on crutches, I have gained weight because I can’t exercise, and my wife does most things for me. I wish I could take all this back, but that can’t happen.”

Arnold Thomas & Becker lawyer Jennifer Lay, who is representing Mr Dorain, said she hoped she could secure compensation for her client so he could move on with his life.

“Glenn is your typical, hard-working family man. This failure has significantly impacted not only his life, but has had a flow-on effect on the lives of his wife, sons and grandchildren,” she said.

“Brimbank Council should have had a better risk assessment in place. A fumigation is a cheap and easy fix. Glenn’s story is a reminder to workplaces to be more diligent and look out for their workers to ensure these types of incidents can be avoided.”

Municipal & Utilities Workers Union president Jennifer Marriott said pest control was a small cost compared to the impact of Mr Dorain’s injury.

“I hope that employers take the opportunity to assess worksites closer, which is their obligation under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, to ensure annual pest spraying can be done at a minimum,” she said.

Brimbank Council declined to comment.