$25k FINE FOR FINGER AMPUTATION
Transport freight company, Tasmanian Freight Services, was fined $25,000.00 and ordered to pay costs of $4,391.00 after a labour hire worker had the tip of his right ring finger amputated whilst assisting others to load a truck at a depot in Laverton North.
A worker was required to use a forklift to load a large pallet of goods onto a truck but the pallet load was not sitting properly. The injured worker picked up a piece of wood and put it in front of the pallet load, as a bearer, so the driver could use the forklift tynes to push it.
As the driver operated the forklift, the injured worker’s finger became jammed between the piece of wood and the pallet causing the amputation.
First aid was administered at the workplace, before another employee transported the injured worker to Werribee and then to the Sunshine Hospital.
The injured worker was admitted to the Sunshine Hospital where he underwent surgery. Unfortunately doctors were unable to reattach his finger due to the extent of the damage caused. The amputation occurred at the first knuckle joint of the right ring finger.
