Friend says worker's lift shaft death 'inevitable'

Elevator engineer David Shaw and his family. Photo / Supplied

An elevator engineer crushed to death in a lift shaft was an "inevitable" casualty of working alone, said a friend.

Married father-of-two David Shaw, 39, had been missing for about 12 hours before emergency services were called to Fonterra's Edendale factory, near Invercargill.

The Otis Elevators' employee was working on part of a $212 million expansion plant is believed to have been killed after slipping from the top of the lift car.

He leaves behind his wife of 10 years, Teri Shaw, and two children, Matt, 11, and Alex, 8.

The Department of Labour is investigating, but has yet to determine whether Otis or Fonterra is responsible for health and safety at the site.

Bob Johnston, head of Lifteye - a lift inspection and consultancy company - who knew Shaw, said the death highlighted safety issues.

Under the Health and Safety Employment Act, the company in charge of the workplace is responsible for maintaining a safe working environment.

However, a Department of Labour spokesman said this can become unclear when contractors are involved.