Fines over dangerous work practices

South Australian company Forbes (Australia) was convicted and fined $30,000 by Industrial Magistrate, Michael Ardlie, after the company pleaded guilty to failing to provide a safe working environment.

SafeWork SA prosecuted after investigating an incident in 2007 at the company’s premises where it manufactures pressure equipment products, such as boilers and air compressor units.

Three workers were painting the inside of a large pressure vessel: a task that involved pouring paint into the vessel and rotating it to ensure the inner surface was covered. This caused a build-up of flammable vapours which was released when a flange was later opened. The fumes were ignited when one of the workers then lit a cigarette lighter. Two workers were injured; one suffering severe burns to 25% of his body.

The magistrate noted the failure of the employer to have appropriate barriers and signage in place or to warn, instruct or train employees about the dangers of working with hazardous substances.

In a separate matter, Spectrum Transport Systems was convicted and fined $29,750, by Magistrate Ardlie, over an incident in 2005 at its waste disposal facility in which a truck driver suffered serious injuries.

The company pleaded guilty to breaching the Occupational Health Safety and Welfare Act 1986, in that it failed to provide information, instruction, training and supervision as was reasonably necessary.

The court heard that the man was standing inside a trailer, to sweep out fallen waste during an unloading process, when he was struck by a bale of compressed waste, weighing several hundred kilograms, which had fallen from the stacked load still within the trailer. He suffered fractures to his pelvis, knee and lower back.

Magistrate Ardlie said the employer should not have allowed its driver to be in the trailer while the bales were being unloaded.