09:54 pm, Wednesday 13 February, 2013

A meat processing plant located in Gippsland has been given a fine of $380,000 for two serious safety incidents that occurred within two weeks.

One involved a fatality where a worker was crushed to death and two weeks later another worker had a finger severed.

The Melbourne County Court today fined the company $350,000 for the death of a worker who was crushed in a hydraulic knocking box in 2010.

They were also fined an additional $30,000 for the incident that happened two weeks later where a worker had his finger severed while he was using a band saw.

The company was found guilty of failing to provide or maintain a safe system of work, and failing to provide information, instruction, training or supervision in relation the task of cleaning the rotating knocking box.

Report by Zoe Dunbar - Do you have an OHS News Story - Let us know

06:31 pm, Tuesday 10 August, 2010

WorkSafe has released a safety solution on the use of woodworking band saws.

According to the safety agency, a problem arises when the equipment is not guarded, ineffectively guarded or poorly maintained.

An unguarded band saw makes its operator vulnerable to serious injuries like lacerations and amputations. A worker’s hand may come into contact with the blade or his clothing may become entangled with the exposed parts of the machine.

WorkSafe gives tips on how to properly guard a band saw to prevent access to the blade.

It also notes that workers must have proper training and supervision when operating the machine. A competent person such as an electrician must perform regular maintenance.

For a PDF copy of the guidelines, please click here.

Report by Julia Alder - Do you have an OHS News Story - Let us know