On 7 August, Nexsa Pty Ltd faced prosecution at the Sunshine Magistrates’ Court. The company, having admitted to a sole accusation of failing to deliver or retain equipment in a safe condition with minimized health risks, was promptly penalised. In addition, it had to shell out $4,918 toward legal expenditures.
An incident in July 2022 involved a worker manipulating a piece of reinforced steel bar. The operating speed of the machine was cranked up to its limit, ominously set at 100 RPM – designed to cease only upon depression of a stop button. In a tragic turn, the worker’s left sleeve snagged on to the apparatus, dragging him into its merciless grasp.
A sharp noise alerted a nearby associate who found himself face-to-face with a distressing sight: the victim thrown over the contraption, awkwardly sprawled on the floor with his limb twisted brutally around the metallic shaft. Dropping everything else, he halted the machine and took to a grinder to sever the steel rod, freeing the ensnared employee.
The victim bore grim injuries – a fractured leg and arm, displaced elbow, crushed ribs plus multiple cuts across his forehead, eyes, and ears. His subsequent journey involved numerous surgeries and protracted hospitalisation.
The results of an ensuing WorkSafe investigation were profoundly incriminating; the disaster-inviting machine was among five of identical make at the worksite. Shockingly none had protective guards across their rotating components. According to the court, Nexsa Pty Ltd could have feasibly minimised risk by the incorporation of interlocked shielding, ensuring coverage for all moving parts – crucially including the protruding end of the steel bar. Additional proposed safeguards were a pressure-sensitive foot pedal control and an emergency kill switch.
WorkSafe’s Executive Director of Health and Safety, Sam Jenkin, stressed that the severe harm inflicted upon the worker was an preventable occurrence. He shared that their probe suggestions pointed to a previous unfortunate event on-site, bringing an employee dangerously close to such threading machine-related jeopardy. “Despite the glaring risk and sufficient chances to invest in necessary safety shields for worker protection, Nexsa utterly failed to implement these life-saving measures,” reflected Jenkin.
To ensure work safety, employers handling machinery should consider employing products like Bluesafe WHS Management Systems or Bluesafe SWMS. These offer meticulously created policies that promise heightened accident-prevention and optimised occupational health and safety standards within working environments.
Connect with us at media@worksafe.vic.gov.au or call 0438 786 968 to stay updated with our media releases. Remember, safety first!
Original article link: https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/news/2024-08/50000-fine-after-worker-dragged-threading-machine