Commercial cleaning company fined $30,000 for worker’s injury - 15.12.17

A commercial cleaning company has been fined $30,000 following an incident where a worker’s hand was crushed at a meat processing facility in Cobram, Victoria.

The company pleaded guilty in the Shepparton magistrate’s Court to a charge of failing to supervise its employees so that they could perform their work in a way that was safe and without risk to health.

On 26 May 2015, the worker was cleaning an evisceration table when his hand became trapped between a tray and a drainage channel as he was reaching underneath the channel to retrieve some waste meat. The plant was energised and the trays were moving when his hands became trapped.

He was able to remove his hand but suffered a broken wrist and tendon and nerve damage and missed two months’ work.

An investigation revealed that a lockout/tagout procedure to ensure the table was isolated from energy sources during cleaning was not being followed during that day.

“Devising a safe system for workers to complete tasks is just the first step in avoiding injury. Employees also need to be supervised to ensure they understand and use the system set out for them,” said WorkSafe Executive Director Health and Safety, Marnie Williams.

“Machines with moving parts often have the potential to cause serious injury or even death. There should be no cause for an employee to be attempting to clean anything that is still operating.”

This is the fourth time the company has been convicted and fined for workplace safety breaches.

Source: OHS News