Steel Manufacturer Fined for Multiple Safety Failures

The following is an abridgement of an article originally published on the WorkSafe Vic website.

A Gippsland steel manufacturer has been convicted and fined $92,000 following three separate incidents that left workers with serious hand injuries. The court handed down the sentence on Tuesday, 23 July, after the company pleaded guilty to multiple charges under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Additionally, the company was ordered to pay $15,836 in costs.

Incident Breakdown and Penalties

November 2020 Incident

• Fine: $20,000
• Failure: Not providing and maintaining safe plant.
• Details: A worker accidentally activated a steel bending machine by pressing a foot pedal while positioning a bar on it, resulting in severe thumb injuries that required skin grafts. An interlock button could have prevented such an accident but was not provided.

August 2021 Incident

• Fine: $32,000
• Failures: Not providing and maintaining safe plant and failing to provide adequate supervision.
• Details: An inexperienced worker’s hand was caught in a bending machine he was operating alongside a co-worker. The accident caused the worker to lose the tip of his little finger and suffer a severe crush injury to his ring finger. The company failed to ensure that non-certified workers were supervised and did not install a required double electronic handpiece system for safe operation.

February 2023 Incident

• Fine: $40,000
• Failures: Not providing and maintaining safe plant and safe systems of work.
• Details: A worker suffered significant crush injuries, including the loss of two fingertips, while guiding a steel bar into a machine . The machine had a distorted viewing panel, inoperable safety lockouts and emergency stops, and the company had not kept its standard operating procedure (SOP) updated.

WorkSafe's Stance

WorkSafe Executive Director of Health and Safety, Sam Jenkin, condemned the company’s approach to safety, stating that their negligence led to serious injuries for three workers over three years. In a statement, Jenkin remarked,

"The dangers associated with operating machinery that uses brute force to shape steel are obvious, and employers must take the safety of their workers seriously [...] Workers deserve to operate safe and well-maintained machines and to have proper supervision and systems of work in place."

Safety Recommendations for Employers

To manage risks associated with working with machinery, employers should:

• Identify and Assess Hazards: Evaluate the risks and eliminate or control them by isolating them or using alternatives.
• Train and Supervise Staff: Ensure workers are trained in the safe operation of machines and provide appropriate supervision and written procedures in their primary language.
• Develop Safe Procedures: Collaborate with employees and health and safety representatives to develop and implement safe operating procedures.
• Maintain Safety Precautions: Keep safety guards and gates fixed to machines at all times.
• Regular Maintenance: Service and inspect machines and equipment regularly.
• Alert Employees: Place clear signage on or near machines to alert employees of operational dangers.