PAPER Australia has been fined $230,000 following the death of a 31-year-old husband and father at its Maryvale mill in May 2005.
Brett Carroll died while maintaining the paper-making machine, when a 5t roller fell and crushed him.
WorkSafe’s investigation found a range of safety mechanisms had been removed. The original instructions for maintenance were missing while a set of instructions created after a major refurbishment in 1986 had been re-written without reference to the manufacturer’s original instructions.
The company pleaded guilty to one charge laid under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1985, which allows for a maximum fine of $255,625. It avoided the 2004 laws which took effect a short time after the incident. Under the 2004 laws, it would have been fined up to $900,000.
According to the sentencing judge, the company had only a ‘reasonable chance of rehabilitation’ considering the series of safety failings which had led to the fatality.
He also blasted the company for its “complacency” and for not paying more attention to safety improvements after another fatality in 2002. It had been fined for similar offences for that incident.
Paper Australia Pty Ltd was convicted and fined $160,000, and given an additional penalty of $70,000 in view of the previous prosecution.
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