A Western Australian roof carpenter has been fined $27,500 after a contractor lost sight in one eye after being struck by a nail gun.
Vlasschaert Carpentry Services pleaded guilty to failing to provide a safe work environment for its contractor, and was fined in the Rockingham Magistrates Court.
In June 2009, the injured contractor was using a nail gun designed for timber, to attach steel holding straps to roof timbers.
On the day of the incident, the contractor reportedly experienced several ricochets where the nail had failed to go through the steel straps, and instead flew into the air.
The contractor was then reportedly struck in the eye by a nail that had ricocheted, resulting in the permanent loss of sight in his left eye.
Although safety glasses were available, he was not wearing appropriate safety glasses at the time of the incident.
Acting WorkSafe commissioner Lex McCulloch said the case should be a reminder to everyone of the importance of ensuring the use of appropriate tools for each task undertaken.
“This case is a shocking example of what can happen when an employer does not make absolutely sure that safe work practices are in place,” McCulloch said.
“And although the employer did tell the contractor that he must wear safety glasses, he failed to actually check that the glasses he was wearing were indeed a type that would provide adequate protection against nail ricochet.
This comes after a roof tiler was been convicted and sentenced to four months in jail, after shooting an apprentice with a nail-gun, causing him to lose the sight in one eye.