Perth company WA Premix has been fined $580,000 after a worker was seriously injured at its Neerabup concrete batching plant.
Perth company WA Premix has been fined $580,000 after a worker was seriously injured at its Neerabup concrete batching plant.
The company, which is part of the WA Limestone group, pleaded guilty in Joondalup Magistrates Court to failing to provide and maintain a safe workplace and, by that failure, causing serious harm to a worker.
The incident occurred in December 2020, when a waste pit gate weighing around two tonnes fell onto the worker.
He suffered multiple open fractures and other injuries that ultimately resulted in the amputation of his left leg below the knee.
The emptying of the waste pits was considered to be a two-person job, but it was done by one person if no other workers were available.
WorkSafe Commissioner Sally North said the incident had been entirely preventable if a comprehensive risk assessment had been performed at the workplace.
“Any risk assessment undertaken at this plant did not include the risk of the gate falling onto a worker, and also the risks present when just one worker performed this task,” Ms North said.
“At the time of this incident, there was no supporting mechanism in place to prevent the gate from falling if it wasn’t attached to the lifting chains.
“After the incident two simple supporting blocks were welded to the front of the gate to hold it in place when the pins are removed.
“Further improvements have since been made that eliminate the need for lifting chains and a front-end loader, with forklift lifting pockets now added to the gates.
“In addition, a more comprehensive safe work procedure was created which requires that two people complete the task of emptying the waste pits.
“The injured worker, along with the rest of the workers at the plant, had not received any formal training in emptying the waste bins.
“All relevant personnel have now undergone training in the relevant safe work practices.
“If these actions had been taken sooner, the injured worker would have been spared the life-changing injury he suffered.
Ms North said the case was a reminder of the crucial importance of assessing every risk in a workplace in consultation with workers and putting into place safe work procedures that workers are trained in and are using.
“WorkSafe has investigated or is currently investigating several incidents involving large gates and other similar barriers, including a tragic fatality that occurred in Welshpool only a matter of days ago.”
