By Bridie Byrne
A LAVERTON North company was fined $45,000 after a worker lost three fingers in a meat-mixing machine.
Diamond Valley Pork pleaded guilty to two charges at the Werribee Magistrates’ Court relating to its failure to properly train workers and have a safe system of work.
Magistrate Gerard Lethbridge was told a man employed by a labour hire company at the firm’s Laverton North processing plant lost three fingers in January 2007 when his hand came into contact with a rotating shaft or paddle. He was taken to hospital where he had surgery to re-attach his fingers.
Investigations found the machine was not adequately guarded as covers could be removed while the machine was running.
WorkSafe’s manufacturing and logistics division director Ross Pilkington said electrical interlock switches were fitted after the incident.
“As with so many incidents like this, the safety improvement work was done too late for the man, who went through the trauma of losing three fingers,” he said.
“It is immensely frustrating, in an industry with a poor safety record, that simple, effective and inexpensive steps are not taken to prevent people being hurt.”
Injuries to the hands and fingers are the biggest cause of injuries in the meat industry, comprising 22 per cent of all workers compensation claims.
