- A man’s was trapped and he received multiple injuries when caught in a machine
- The company he worked for has been fined $65,000 in the Joodaloop Court
- Injuries included spine fractures, a severed foot and internal organ damage
- The company has pleaded guilty and been cooperating with the investigators
The company employing a worker who was trapped in a limestone block making machine has been fined $65,000.
The man’s foot was severed and he received multiple ‘internal injuries’ when he was caught in the machine in Perth.
Limestone Building Blocks Company was penalised in the Joondalup Magistrates Court on Friday over the January 25, 2017 incident.
The man worked for the Limestone Building Blocks Company, who have cooperated with the investigation but received a $65,000 fine in the Joondalup Magistrates Court on Friday (stock)
The worker got in the machine to remove a large lump of dry limestone when the machine started up, leaving him with severe injuries.
These injuries included a severed foot, fractures to his spine, pelvis, ribs and left leg and internal organ damage.
Western Australia’s Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety Department found a one-key safety system designed to prevent workers from entering the machine when powered had been circumvented.
Only one key is meant to be used to turn on the hydraulic system and open the guarding so that the machine is never on if the inside needs inspecting.
Mines safety Director Andrew Chaplyn said the result of the accident ‘could have been fatal’ (stock)
On the day of the incident, two keys were being used.
The result could have been fatal and has been life-changing for the worker, says Mines Safety Director Andrew Chaplyn.
“This incident could easily have been prevented if the company had taken some simple safety steps that were already known to them,” Mr Chaplyn said.
The company had already pleaded guilty and co-operated with investigators, the department said.
As well as the $65,000 fine, the Limestone Building Blocks Company also had to pay court costs of $3120.33.