Katanning’s sheep processing co-operative has been fined $785,000 for the death in 2022 of a foreign abattoir worker.
Katanning’s sheep processing co-operative has been fined $785,000 for the death in 2022 of a foreign abattoir worker.
WAMMCO pleaded guilty in Albany Magistrates Court on Thursday to failing to provide a safe workplace which resulted in the death of a worker.
The worker hailed from Tonga and was employed at the facility under the federal government’s Pacific Australia Labour Mobility program.
Worksafe said the worker died in December 2022 after becoming trapped in a piece of equipment in the rendering shed used for processing products for non-human consumption.
The man was emptying hessian bags of meat meal into a hopper when he was drawn into a fixed plant known as a cake press where he suffered ‘fatal crush injuries’, Worksafe said.
The cake press contains rotating paddles which need to be operating during the cleaning procedure which was taking place.
WorkSafe commissioner Sally North said effective guarding on moving parts of machinery was crucial for safety.
“The machinery involved in this incident had a large unguarded opening with moving parts inside and no protection for workers having to empty heavy loads into it,” she said.
“As a result of this incident, the company installed a post box-style guard on the cake press with a hinged door and guards on the sides to prevent a person accessing the rotating paddles.
“This incident resulted in improvements to safety in this workplace, but at the cost of the tragic loss of a worker’s life.”
The abattoir operator was ordered to cover $5,700 in legal costs on top of the fine.
WAMMCO was contacted for comment.
