AUTOMOTIVE carpet maker MCK Pacific has been fined $40,500 after two workers were injured by the same machine in separate but identical incidents.
The company pleaded guilty to two separate charges of breaching Section 19(1) of the Occupational Health Safety and Welfare Act 1986 in failing to provide a safe system of work and failing to keep plant in a safe condition.
The incidents occurred in January 2006 and July 2007, and involved the same foaming press machine which is used to press and mould carpet.
In the 2006 incident, a male worker climbed into the machine to remove excess foam. A colleague started the machine while he was inside, and the worker’s foot was trapped.
The SafeWork SA investigation at that time found there were no safe operating procedures for cleaning or maintaining the machine. A hazard identification and risk assessment led the company to install sensors and a lockout box.
However, 18 months later, another male worker was changing a tool die inside the same machine when another colleague pressed the start button. The man inside had his foot caught at the same location.
The workplace safety authority claims there were no safe operating procedures for the tool die changing operation. It also found no adequate system for locking out the machine while someone was inside.
In determining the fines to be applied, the court noted the early guilty pleas, cooperation and contrition. It also observed the incidents had occurred under a previous owner, and the improvements since then have resulted in the employer winning the Safe Work Awards in 2006.
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