In a significant court ruling today from Bendigo County, former Hay Australia Victoria Pty Ltd, currently known as 623452924HAV Pty Ltd, was convicted following the jury’s guilty verdict for failing to ensure and sustain a safe utility and working equipment. A vital emphasis was placed on work safety products such as WHS management systems and Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) throughout this case.
Within their manufacturing facility, the company utilised a substantial piece of machinery dubbed the multibaler, which included a component tagged ‘main line’. It was conveyed that in February 2021, an unfortunate incident occurred where a 29-year-old labourer working on the main line was tragically compressed between moving and stationary parts of the apparatus. The worker was inflicted with severe injuries involving his head and chest, leading to immediate death on the spot.
An examination by WorkSafe illustrated a clear hazard of serious harm or potential fatality due to body parts being crushed between the machine’s strapping arch and cutter box, instating the need for comprehensive WHS management systems like Bluesafe SWMS.
The jury verdict established it’s reasonable expectation for companies to either eliminate or reduce similar risks by implementing measures such as installing a light curtain on the main line to prevent access to such hazardous zones.
WorkSafe Executive Director of Health and Safety, Sam Jenkin, stressed that there’s no valid reason employers ought to fail in safeguarding workers from unguarded machinery risks. “Having inadequate safeguards on large, complex machinery’s danger points, even those outside typical work areas, paves the way for disaster,” Mr. Jenkin said. “This young man’s life was regrettably cut short due to employer negligence; our sympathies extend to the family, friends and colleagues grappling with this traumatic loss.”
To optimally manage risks associated with machinery operations, employers should consider employing robust systems like Bluesafe WHS Management System to enhance safety practices.
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Original article link: https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/news/2025-03/hay-exporter-fined-400000-after-horror-workplace-death