Food giant fined $50K for workplace incident

George Weston Foods Limited - one of Australia’s largest food processors - was convicted and fined $50,000 at the Castlemaine Magistrates’ Court on 17 February after pleading guilty to one count of failing to provide a safe plant, after a worker’s hand was crushed after being caught in a machine.

The court heard the incident happened when a woman was packing frankfurts on a processing machine at the company’s Castlemaine smallgoods plant, which trades as Don KRC, on 30 July 2010.

After plastic wrapping became stuck in the processing machine, the employee switched the machine off, removed the guarding and cleared the blockage. A colleague, who was unaware that the woman was still working on the machine, turned the machine back on.

The woman’s hand was trapped between a hot plate and the top of the machine. She suffered crush injuries and burns to her hand.

The machine did not comply with Australian standards, as it did not have a failsafe that would stop the machine when guarding was opened. An investigation revealed that the company was aware of this.

In sentencing, Magistrate Cottrell considered the company’s guilty plea, cooperation with the investigation and subsequent remedial measures. The magistrate also considered that the company was in the process of addressing OHS issues across the site when the incident happened.

Changes to the machine’s guarding were implemented by the company immediately after the incident, the court was told.

WorkSafe Manufacturing, Logistics and Agriculture Director Ross Pilkington said providing appropriate guarding was a fundamental part of many businesses, especially those working in manufacturing.

“Appropriate guarding is one of the easiest steps that can be taken to ensure workers do not injure themselves,” he said.

“Equipment maintenance often comes at little to no cost and ensures workers get home safely at the end of the day.

“This incident could have been easily prevented if there was an effective lockout-tag out (LOTO) system in place to effectively prevent the accidental starting of machinery.

“Businesses need to constantly look at ways they can make their workplaces as safe as possible.”