Amputations prompt SafeWork harvest safety warning

SafeWork NSW has issued a warning to farms and rural workplaces in South West NSW to be safe while working with and around grain augers after two workers suffered amputations.

Initial investigations of the incidents indicate a lack of guarding and communication were key factors for the injuries.

SafeWork reported that the first incident, which occurred on Thursday, 26 November at Lake Cargelligo while workers were preparing to harvest chick peas, involved the amputation of a 45-year-old male’s left arm after it became entangled in the harvester’s outlet auger during an inspection.

The second incident, which occurred on Friday, 27 November at Leeton, allegedly involved a 52-year-old male farm worker who was augering grain from the rear of a truck into a grain storage shed.

SafeWork inquiries indicate that after emptying the grain from the truck, the worker’s left foot has been amputated by the rotating flight on the screw auger, which was not guarded.

“Safety guarding is inexpensive, easy to install and reduces access to dangerous areas of a machine,” said SafeWork NSW Director, Regional and Response Operations Tony Williams.

“Grain auger guards must protect people while also allowing grain to flow. SafeWork NSW recommends mesh up to 100x100 mm apertures to enable grain to flow at a sufficient rate into the grain auger while maintaining an acceptable level of safety when used with an inner guard.”

Williams said these recent incidents demonstrate how a lack of guarding can result in serious injury or death.

“Every injury at a rural workplace has an impact on the worker, their family, the farmer and the local community. Tragically, two workers have suffered serious injuries, which our initial investigations indicate could have been prevented had effective guarding been in place,” said Williams.

“We want all farmers and farm workers to come home safely at the end of this harvest period and are urging all farms and rural workplaces to take steps to insure their grain augers have adequate guarding and safety systems so that no other workers are injured.”

SafeWork NSW auger safety recommendations during harvest include:

• ensuring the drive source is isolated, locked out and tagged at the power source before carrying out maintenance, repairs, installation and cleaning or before clearing a grain blockage;
• ensuring rotating screws, intake areas and belts are adequately guarded in augers;
• ensuring an emergency stop is fitted to all machines;
• ensuring the auger is structurally sound and stable;
• ensuring hazard warning signs are in place;
• ensuring users receive adequate training, supervision and instruction in the safe use of augers.

For more information, visit www.safework.nsw.gov.au.