G & G Mining Fabrication will pay more than $500,000 over a workplace incident that caused a worker to lose his eye and suffer serious head injuries.
G & G Mining Fabrication will pay more than $500,000 over a workplace incident at its workshop that caused a worker to lose his eye and suffer serious head injuries.
The Hazelmere-based company pleaded guilty to failing to provide and maintain a safe work environment that caused serious harm to a worker over an incident in August 2021.
Midland Magistrates Court today fined G & G Mining $500,000 and ordered the company to pay more than $6,500 in costs.
In a written statement, WorkSafe said the incident involved a steel plate weighing more than 500 kilograms – known as a “lug plate” – falling on the boilermaker’s head while he was fabricating a hook-up assembly for an excavator bucket.
As a result, the boilermaker incurred several significant injuries, including the loss of an eye and multiple skull-based fractures.
According to WorkSafe, the injured boilermaker considered the lug plate secured by turnbuckles which were welded on to provide additional restraint.
WorkSafe said G & G Mining Fabrication did have a relevant safe work procedure both documented and in place, however it was not utilised or provided to workers.
In its statement, WorkSafe commissioner Sally North said the company immediately took steps to reduce further incidents of this nature occurring.
“This was an incident that caused horrific injuries to the boilermaker,” she said.
“After the incident, the company developed a procedure specifically for this task and included that an overhead crane must remain connected to the lug plate until an adequate weld is in place.
“Being hit by falling metal objects is one of the highest risks for injuries and fatalities in the manufacturing sector and I encourage leaders working in this sector to consult workers and review their controls in relation to preventing objects from falling.”
