RECORD $2.24M FINE FOR APPRENTICE'S LIFE ALTERING INJURY

Gippsland company, Dennis Jones Engineering Pty Ltd, and its director Dennis Jones, have been convicted and fined a total of $2.24 million after an apprentice was seriously injured using a metal turning lathe, in October 2021.

Jones also received a five-year Community Corrections Order and a $140,000 fine for failing to ensure a safe workplace and safe systems of work.

In the incident the apprentice was directed to use a plastic sleeve to steady steel pipes on the lathe. When the pipe bent and whipped, he was struck, resulting in serious head injuries.

A resulting investigation found preventive measures, such as fixing covers to the lathe or using a fixed steady to support pipes, could and should have been taken, with WorkSafe emphasising the company's failure to implement known safety measures.

The penalties reflect the life-altering impact this devastating incident has had on a vulnerable apprentice who was at the very start of his career.

Controls required for the safe operation of metal turning lathes include appropriate guarding, compatible tools, creating restricted zones, and providing proper training and protective equipment to workers.

More detail here

Share Tweet

RELATED

ASK RENATA
I’ve heard that 9-inch grinders have been banned on construction sites. Can you confirm this is true?
Read More
WORLD OHS CONGRESS: THREE PILLARS OF ACTION
The 23rd World Congress on Safety and Health at Work, has commenced in Sydney, with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) emphasising the urgency required to address work-related accidents and diseases.
Read More
COVID NUMBERS CONTINUE TO CLIMB
Victorian data taken from Department of Health Weekly Report 24 November 2023. The number of people in hospital with COVID-19 increased this week to a daily average of 325, up from 317 last week. The...
Read More