Uniroll Roofing, a manufacturer of metal roofing products, seriously injured a worker who had only been with the company for two weeks. The worker was instructed by a manager to clean a Trimdeck machine at their Warrnambool factory, machine while it was still running. This was possible because the metal press’ safety guards could be bypassed.
While cleaning the rollers as instructed, the worker turned his head in response to a loud bang elsewhere in the factory. At that point, a roller ensnared his scouring pad and spun his fingers into the machine’s rollers. The worker was able to pull his hand out but not before the ring and middle fingers of his right hand had been crushed and degloved.
Uniroll had failed to maintain a safe system for cleaning the Trimdeck machine, which should have been turned off and isolated for the task. The worker had not been provided with the necessary information, instruction, training, and supervision to perform the work safely.
The court noted the serious nature of the offense and emphasised the need for general deterrence in its sentencing. Uniroll pleaded guilty, and the court issued a $40,000 fine, plus $4,207 in costs, reduced from $90,000 due to their guilty plea.
