Lost eye forces company to take notice

A railway maintenance worker lost an eye at work, almost eight years after a 1997 consultant's report identified the work practice as 'high risk'. As a result of the accident, Australia's largest private rail freight operator has been convicted and fined $50,000.

A 60-year-old man was working at the Dynon Road, Melbourne, Wagon Maintenance Centre of Pacific National (ACT) when the incident occured in June 2004.

Pacific National (ACT) Ltd pleaded guilty to one charge laid under the 1985 Occupational Health and Safety Act.

A court was told two men were working to replace bogies, which had undergone maintenance on freight wagons. The bodies were lifted from the bogies by hydraulic jacks allowing one set to be rolled away and another to be moved into position.

On the day of the incident, one man was under the wagon and using an 88cm 'blocking bar' to align a king-pin on the bogie with the body of the wagon that was being lowered.

As the wagon body was being moved into position, the bar flew up hitting the man underneath on the head dislodging his eye, which was later removed during eight days in hospital.

His cheek bone was also shattered and his skull damaged. The injured man had two operations, including plastic surgery. He has since had psychological and psychiatric treatment and seen an occupational therapist.

WorkSafe told the court the danger of working under wagons should have been eliminated after the 1997 safety report identified the hazard.

The Magistrate hearing the case said although the risks were considerable, the remedies were simple and easy to apply. He urged other companies to be ever-vigilant.

Pacific National immediately reviewed work procedures after the incident, which resulted in staff being prohibited from being under wagons while they were being raised or lowered and rolling stock maintenance instructions were amended and sent to other rail operators to warn them of potential risks.

The company also revised its procedures and manuals and employees were trained on safer work practices.