Conviction and fine after maintenance worker crushed - 21.6.21

An employee at a food manufacturer suffered a traumatic incident undertaking maintenance work while a machine was in operation, resulting in the company being convicted and fined $125,000.

The Dandenong Magistrates Court heard that in January 2019, the worker crawled under a conveyor in a large warming chamber used to prove dough to clear a blockage.

Another worker acting as a ‘spotter’ was communicating via radio with a third worker at the control panel but unable to see inside the chamber. The maintenance worker was crushed when the console operator started the machine, mishearing the spotter’s response when asked if he should ‘inch’ the conveyor back and forth to clear the jam.

The injured employee was trapped for 30 minutes and received internal bruising, minor scarring and lower back pain.

The company pleaded guilty in June 2019 to failing to provide a safe workplace by failing to provide an auxiliary control to eliminate or reduce the risk to workers undertaking maintenance while a machine is operated.

Read the full article on the WorkSafe Victoria website.

Source – SafetyCulture Plus