$30K fine after worker run over by loader

Employers who operate heavy machinery such as loaders and forklifts are being urged to check that they have systems in place to keep workers safe from moving vehicles, after the issue was highlighted last Friday in a SA Industrial Relations Court ruling.

PMP (SA) & Associates was convicted and fined $30,000 over an incident at the company’s Dry Creek asphalt manufacturing plant in May 2005.

As the Operations Manager and a second employee went to inspect bins in the plant’s asphalt yard, the employee was struck by a front-end loader that was reversing in the yard.

The loader’s rear wheel ran over both of the man’s legs then up to his shoulder and arm, resulting in multiple fractures.

SafeWork SA found there was no traffic control system in place to separate people from the heavy vehicles in the asphalt yard.

Investigators also found there was insufficient information, instruction, training and supervision for workers on the dangers of the vehicle operations.

The employee was off work for nearly two and a half years, but successfully returned to duties on a gradual basis.

The company upgraded its safety systems after the incident and cooperated with authorities, but Industrial Magistrate Michael Ardlie noted how “the incident exposed deficiencies in the defendant’s manuals and policies and procedures”.

SafeWork SA Acting Executive Director Bryan Russell said contact with heavy machinery such as loaders and forklifts remains a major cause of harm in the workplace.

“Such items of plant can cause grievous injuries so, to avoid these, employers must rigorously assess the risks involved in using such machinery, and then ensure they have the appropriate safety measures in place.

“We’ve investigated a number of serious incidents of this kind in the past, and all could have been avoided had proper account been taken of the dangers inherent in having heavy machinery on the move near people,” Russell said.