Michaela Meade
Recycling company SKM Services has been fined $70,000 after a worker’s hand was amputated at its Coolaroo factory.
The company was convicted on a charge of failing, so far as was reasonably practicable, to provide a safe workplace, and was sentenced in Broadmeadows Magistrates Court on Wednesday, September 22, 2021.
On October 24, 2014, a 36-year-old worker’s right hand was amputated in a baler used to crush aluminium recycling into a cube.
The court heard the worker was injured while strapping bales of crushed aluminium near the machine.
WorkSafe health and safety executive director Andrew Keen said WorkSafe would not hesitate to prosecute businesses that disregard their responsibility to provide a safe workplace.
“Businesses must do everything reasonably possible to keep workplaces safe and protect workers from the risk of serious injury or death,” Mr Keen said.
“Sadly, as a result of this incident, a worker has suffered severe injury with lifelong consequences.
“There is no excuse for employers who risk workers’ safety by ignoring their health and safety obligations.”
A WorkSafe investigation found the company had failed to reduce risks to workers’ safety by not having a guard fitted to the machine to prevent access to the bale exit point.
