WORKSAFE says it has put timber mill operators on notice to improve safety following the prosecution of a company and its director on workplace health and safety charges.
WorkSafe claims Canningvale Timber Sales was convicted and fined $55,000 and its director was convicted and fined $15,000 after a worker’s hand was cut off at the wrist by an unguarded saw at the company’s Heyfield mill.
Director of WorkSafe’s Manufacturing, Logistics and Agriculture Division, Ross Pilkington says inadequate machine guarding remains a common safety threat in sawmills.
“WorkSafe continues to take a zero-tolerance approach to sawmill safety. This is one of a number of serious incidents from mills which will be before the courts in coming months,” Mr Pilkington said.
According to Mr Pilkington, the industry should review potential safety issues because those identified during the investigation of the Canningvale incident are common occurrences in mills.