Two companies have been fined $800,000 and ordered to pay costs over the death of a worker at a Welshpool factory.
Two companies have been fined $800,000 and ordered to pay costs over the death of a worker at a Welshpool factory.
A worker at L&M Radiator, a company that manufactures, services and repairs large industrial radiators, suffered fatal crush injuries while cleaning a radiator in 2019.
The worker was crushed between the radiator he was cleaning and a radiator that fell on the ground when the lifting chains attached to a gantry crane failed.
L&M Radiator pleaded guilty to failing to provide and maintain a safe work environment in the Perth Magistrates Court last week.
The company was fined $500,000 and ordered to pay $11,211.50 in costs.
According to a WorkSafe statement, Chain Applications supplied the lifting chains at the L&M premises.
Chain Applications supplies, maintains and inspects lifting and height safety equipment.
The company pleaded guilty as a designer, manufacturer or supplier to failing to provide adequate information, thereby causing the death of the worker, and was fined $300,000 in the Perth Magistrates Court last week.
The court also ordered Chain Applications to pay $9,121.50 in costs.
WorkSafe Commissioner Darren Kavanagh said exclusion zones should be implemented and strictly observed in workplaces that are likely to include suspended loads.
“The need for and use of exclusion zones around suspended loads is well known throughout industry, and really is simple common sense,” he said.
“The magistrate found that the degree of risk at this workplace was significant given the heavy objects being lifted, and accepted that L&M could easily have implemented the practicable measures required to lessen that risk.
“The case is also a timely reminder that designers, manufacturers and suppliers also have responsibilities when it comes to the safety of workers using their products."
Mr Kavanagh said WorkSafe could take prosecution action against companies that fail to provide and maintain a safe work environment.
“The fact that neither L&M nor Chain Applications did everything practicable to ensure a safe workplace led to the tragic death of a worker and sizeable penalties for the two companies,” he said.
