Horsham company fined $50K over sweep auger injury

Following an incident in which a worker’s leg was caught in a sweep auger, a Horsham company has been fined $50,000. Laharum Bulk Handling Company received the fine after pleading guilty to one charge of breaching section 21(2)(a) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004.

The Horsham Magistrates’ Court heard that, while moving canola from a silo into a truck, the worker’s leg became caught in the sweep auger. He required about 100 stitches for lacerations and a detached calf muscle.

Investigating the claim, WorkSafe found that the company failed to provide guarding for the sweep auger, failed to ensure workers did not come too close to the auger while it was operating and failed to ensure it could not be operated while someone was inside.

The company admitted it failed to provide a safe working environment for its employees.

WorkSafe issued the company with a safety improvement notice, after which the sweep auger was fitted with a solid mesh guard and a metal guard to reduce entanglement risks. Other safety measures were also applied.

“Dangerous machinery will be a major focus for WorkSafe in the next financial year,” said Lisa Sturzenegger, WorkSafe’s General Manager of Operations. This incident shows what can happen and how simple measures can prevent the incident happening.

Sturzenegger said that, although the worker’s injuries were serious enough, the incident could have been far worse.

“As this case shows, the courts take these issues seriously. Apart from the effect on the individual, a fine can have significant financial consequences for companies and the people who lead them,” Sturzenegger said.