Class Plastics (Aust) Pty Ltd manufactures rigid plastic blow-moulded industrial bottles, drums and other storage containers. In April 2022 an employee was crushed by a plastic moulding machine suffering life threatening injuries, including a traumatic brain injury (see SN742 article).
On 4 December 2024 the Magistrates’ Court imposed a sentence of $40,000, just 2.5% of the maximum available fine for the offence. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed the sentence.
The machine in which the incident occurred is referred to as the C14 plant – it is a machine that moulds plastic and is fitted with an interlock system on its doors. Access to the machine through these doors is periodically required to remove debris or adjust the manufacturing values. The interlock system prevents the machine from operating when the doors are open.
Employees had been instructed to turn the C14 plant off before entering and a paper notice was affixed to the machine in April 2021 which stated “I would like to remind everyone that we cannot run machines with the doors and gates open. All doors and gates must be closed while the machine is running. This is a safety issue.”
On the day of the 2022 incident an employee was called to assist with a manufacturing error at the C14 plant. Unaware that the interlock system had been disconnected or over-ridden by tape being placed over the interlock system, the employee came into contact with the moving components of the machine causing serious crush injuries. It is unclear who was responsible for the disabling of the interlock system.
On 11 April 2025 the County Court set aside the orders of the Magistrates’ Court and imposed a fine of $75,000 with conviction – still less than 5% of the maximum allowable penalty.
In the appeal decision the court noted that management were aware of the issue with the interlock system, had given the safety manager approval to rectify the issue and had begun taking steps toward this - however when that manager left the company nothing further was done to prevent the recurrence of bypassing the interlock. Proper and timely maintenance of the interlock, including regular inspection and monitoring of the sensors would have eliminated the risk completely. It was also noted that there had been previous improvement notices issued to the company in relation to guarding on other machines in the workplace.
Read more: Prosecution Result Summaries and Enforceable Undertakings | WorkSafe Victoria
