GEELONG-based Express Promotions has been convicted for recklessly endangering the health and safety of its workers.
The company was prosecuted over a July 20008 incident where a 37-year-old printer’s left hand was trapped between the rollers of an inadequately guarded printing press. Three fingers were crushed.
According to WorkSafe Victoria, the workers were frequently bypassing the guarding on the printing press in order to operate and clean it. Workers had never seen any written instructions on how to safely operate or clean the press.
While company management had emailed staff, telling them not to override guarding, there was nothing in place to make sure these instructions were enforced.
WorkSafe Victoria says the company management failed to identify the risks, and knew the workers were in danger, but did not step in to adequately protect them.
Following the incident, the company installed new guarding on the press as well as on other machinery, for a cost of less than $10,000.
The printing company was convicted of reckless endangerment under health and safety legislation. It was fined $280,000.