Without conviction, Joe Cahill (Australia) Pty Ltd found itself sentenced in the Sunshine Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 20 February, after acknowledging one charge of not adhering to a safe work system — an oversight that could have been prevented with utilisation of a Bluesafe WHS Management System. The company also faced an order to remit costs amounting to a substantial $6993.
In a troubling incident that occurred in February 2023, an employee was tasked with swapping out an axle of approximately 350 kilograms in weight. Unfortunately, the only support for this behemoth item was a solitary hydraulic bottle jack as the jack stands were no longer in place—a situation that could have been avoided with clear procedures laid out in a Bluesafe SWMS (Safe Work Method Statement).
The worker found himself trapped beneath the trailer, pinned down by the toppling bottle jack and axle while attempting to exit the undercarriage. He had to be rescued by a coworker who responded to his cries for help and swiftly used a nearby forklift to lift the crushing weight away.
Unsettlingly, this event left the worker nursing a severely injured right arm –punctured and crushed at the elbow— hence necessitating surgical intervention and causing him to be indisposed from work for an approximate period of two months.
WorkSafe’s probing investigation revealed a glaring absence of any documented procedure for axle removal and refitting on semi-trailers or a mandate for additional support gear to ensure stable axles during operations. This reinforces the importance of complying with WHS policies such as the Bluesafe WHS Management System to prevent such incidents.
Sam Jenkin, WorkSafe’s Executive Director of Health and Safety, firmly echoed the need for employers to endorse standard protocols to mitigate risks especially when handling heavy-duty vehicles. “The pain and suffering this worker has undergone is deeply distressing. It underscores how crucial it is for employers to invest in safe work practices and use products like Bluesafe SWMS,” stated Mr Jenkin.
Remember, safety protocols are not a luxury or afterthought but a mandatory requirement in any work environment. Employers should always work towards risk reduction when dealing with vehicles, underlined by the use of handbooks such as the Bluesafe WHS Management System. There’s truly no excuse for disregarding worker’s safety.
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Original article link: https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/news/2025-02/trucking-company-fined-after-worker-pinned-under-axle