Call for better machine guarding after another workplace death

WorkSafe Victoria is investigating an incident where a man died from head injuries suffered while cleaning a machine at a poultry processing works in Laverton North.

The fatality was the15th traumatic work-related death in Victoria this year. There had been 16 deaths at the same time last year.

WorkSafe Strategic Programs Director Trevor Martin said: “At this early stage, we believe the worker may have been caught up on a hook-and-chain system used for carrying birds around the factory.

“Machine guarding remains one of the state’s biggest workplace safety issues - and it’s a particular risk for cleaners.

“Cleaners being pulled into machinery with exposed moving parts is a real issue - workers are being badly injured and dying. Employers and those with responsibilities for workers need to wake up and start managing the risks.

“If you manage, maintain or own machinery and equipment, you’ve got to make sure that all moving parts that can have contact with any part of the body have approved physical barriers or guards fitted.

“All staff, especially inexperienced workers, need to be trained and carefully supervised in the safe use of machinery and equipment.

“Energy sources must be identified and isolated before starting machinery maintenance or cleaning; and machinery and equipment should only be used as recommended by the manufacturer.”

So far this year, there have been outcomes to three significant WorkSafe prosecutions where cleaners have been seriously injured through exposure to dangerous machinery.

In May, Turi Enterprises and labour-hire company Ken Enterprises were convicted and fined after a 2009 incident where a cleaner suffered serious injuries from being pulled into an unguarded chicken neck breaker machine.

In March, Ararat Abattoirs (Aust) and service provider Western Contracting (Vic) were convicted and fined after a 2008 incident where a contract cleaner’s arm was caught in machinery when a conveyer chain unexpectedly started.

And in February, Warrnambool-based Midfield Meat was convicted and fined, and Hygiene Control was fined without conviction, following a 2007 incident where a worker’s arm was dragged into an unguarded conveyer.