Director and company prosecuted after hand caught in shredder

Victorian meat manufacturing company DR & J Fabbris (trading as Fabbris Smallgoods) was convicted and fined at Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court after a worker’s hand was caught in a meat shredder at the company’s factory in 2008 - causing severe and permanent injury.

Magistrate Ann Collins convicted and fined the company’s sole director, Dino Fabbris, $25,000 for his failure to arrange for the shredder to be guarded - despite working on the factory floor on a daily basis and taking managerial responsibility for the company’s two factories.

WorkSafe Victoria’s Acting Health and Safety Director, Stan Krpan, said company directors had to take responsibility for the health and safety of their workers: “In this case, we have a director who was aware that the unguarded shredder was a hazard, and did nothing about it. This has resulted in prosecution for the company and the loss of livelihood for a worker.

“This is a reminder to directors - especially those assuming a hands-on role in their company - that it’s their responsibility to step up to the mark and make decisions on health and safety for their company.”

The company was separately convicted and fined $50,000 for two charges under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 - failing to provide safe plant and failing to provide information, instruction and training to employees.

The incident occurred when a worker was required to work on the factory’s smaller shredder, which was not guarded, after previously being trained and working only on the larger shredder, which had an interlocking guard.

When the shredder became blocked with meat, the worker attempted to unblock it by pushing the meat with his hand, without switching the machine off. His hand was caught in the blades of the shredder and dragged into the shredding machinery.

As a result of the injury, the worker’s middle three fingers were removed to the knuckle; and he suffered damaged nerves, constant pain and restricted movement of his thumb.

Amputations are a major source of serious workplace injuries, with many reported in the manufacturing industry each year.