An insulated panel manufacturer and labour hire firm have been fined a combined $65,000 after part of a worker's finger was amputated at a Dandenong South factory.
Askin (Vic) Pty Ltd was sentenced in the Dandenong Magistrates' Court last week after pleading guilty to failing to provide and maintain a safe workplace. The company was fined $40,000 without conviction plus $4,350 costs.
In May 2022, the labour hire worker was changing bags on the manufacturing line's extraction system, a job given to him a month after beginning his placement, in addition to his regular duties as a packer.
He was using a plastic pipe to clear an extractor vent blocked by a clump of wool when the pipe made contact with a rotary valve and was dragged inwards. This forced the worker's hand into contact with the valve's blades, partially amputating and degloving his middle finger.
In May 2024, labour hire company Dekro Recruitment Pty Ltd, which provided the worker to Askin, was fined $25,000 without conviction plus $2,841 costs after pleading guilty to failing to provide and maintain a safe system of work.
WorkSafe's investigation found there was a risk of serious injury as workers could access the powered parts of the paddle blade assembly while it was operating.
Far too often we see workers, particularly those with little experience in a workplace, exposed to the well-known risks of moving machinery," said WorkSafe Executive Director of Health and Safety, Sam Jenkin. "Every employer, including those providing workers to other businesses, must ensure they develop safe systems and processes to properly identify and manage hazards as they emerge."
Read more: WorkSafe news $65,000 in fines over amputated finger
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