Company fined $65,000 over workplace fatality at Donnybrook
Date issued: 2010-02-01
Scope Engineering Services Pty Ltd has been fined $65,000 after a worker died from being pinned under water on the floor of a pond at a sand plant in August 2008.
The company was found guilty in the Caboolture Industrial Magistrates Court of breaching section 28 (1) of the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995, having failed to ensure workplace safety.
On 20 August 2009 the Court heard that a worker died when positioned on a pontoon in preparation for electrical work.
The pontoon listed when a floating walkway was attached to the pontoon, which caused an unsecured pump to move. This then caused the pontoon to capsize, with the pump pinning the worker to the bottom of the pond.
The investigation by Workplace Health and Safety Queensland revealed the company failed its health and safety obligations.
The hazard presented by the unstable pontoon and pump had not been identified during a risk assessment of the work.
Industrial Magistrate Paul Johnstone took into account that the company had no previous convictions for breaches of the Act, cooperated with the investigation and entered an early guilty plea. No conviction was recorded.
In addition to the fine, he ordered the company pay $3253.68 investigation and court costs.
The prosecution was brought by Workplace Health and Safety Queensland, part of the Department of Justice and Attorney-General.
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