A Lethbridge poultry farm has been charged by WorkSafe under s.26(1) of the OHS Act - Duties of persons who manage or control workplaces – after a worker was fatally crushed in a conveyor belt in March 2023.
WorkSafe alleges that the company, Lemitech Pty Ltd, failed to reduce the risk of serious injury or death by not controlling the risk the conveyor belt presented by doing any of the following –
- installing a fixed guard with a viewing window on the tail pulley
- installing in-running nip guards over the roller of the tail pulley
- installing a maintenance jog function to slow the conveyor when the existing guard was removed
- install a fixed guard over an in-running nip point near the tail pulley
- implement a lockout-tag out procedure to prevent the conveyor from operating during maintenance works
The 34-year-old employee, Liam Harrington, became entangled in a machine conveyor belt at the poultry farm. Emergency services attending the incident, but Mr Harrington died at the scene. He was a much-loved local and the Lethbridge sport-scene and wider community mourned the loss of their friend, neighbour and teammate.
The matter is listed for a filing hearing at the Geelong Magistrate’s Court this week.
Read more: https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/news/2025-02/poultry-farm-charged-after-conveyor-belt-death