Fine for SA sawmill injury

South Australian company Parafield Gardens Sawmill was convicted and fined after pleading guilty to one count of breaching section 19 of the Occupational Health Safety and Welfare Act 1986 in that it failed to maintain plant in a safe condition and failed to provide a safe system of work.

The incident happened in 2007 at its premises where the company cuts wood to manufacture pallets, boxes and crates. During an operation to cut timber with a twin-edge saw, a log fell from its position on the machine. A worker went to the opposite side of the machine to retrieve the piece and was caught by his shorts in an exposed chain and sprocket that were in motion. Upon seeing the incident, a co-worker operating the machine hit the emergency stop.

The injured man suffered a laceration to the groin area, but recovered fully and was able to return to work three weeks later.

SafeWork SA’s investigation revealed that prior to the incident occurring, a roller on the machine had been removed for repairs. The guard that would otherwise have covered the exposed chain and socket had been left off.

“With the benefit of hindsight, [the defendant] should have put the guard back while the roller was away for repairs,” noted Industrial Magistrate Michael Ardlie.

He fined the employer $7500, having reduced the penalty by 25% to account for the early guilty plea, contrition and improvement of its safety systems since the incident.