Machinery parts company fined $30,000 over workplace safety breach
Date issued: 2009-10-06
An earthmoving machinery parts supply company has been fined $30,000 after a worker was injured at its Toowoomba workplace in January 2008.
Tilly's Crawler Parts Pty Ltd pleaded guilty in the Brisbane Industrial Magistrates Court on 3 June 2009 to breaching section 24 of the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995, having failed to ensure workplace safety.
The court heard an employee was working on an unguarded track press when a washer shattered. Part of the washer penetrated his abdomen, injuring his bowel.
The Workplace Health and Safety Queensland investigation revealed the guard supplied with the track press had not been used.
As a result of the incident the company has modified its work practices to ensure guarding is in place at all times.
Industrial Magistrate Mr Graham Lee, in addition to the fine, ordered the company to pay investigation, professional and court costs totalling $4294. No conviction was recorded.
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