Recycling company fined $175,000 after worker crushed under skid steer loader

A Geelong recycling company has been convicted and fined $175,000 following the death of a worker who was struck and run over by a skid steer loader at its Grovedale transfer station.
 
The Company pleaded guilty to one charge of failing to provide a safe working environment under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 by failing to eliminate the risk of powered mobile plant colliding with pedestrians.

It was also ordered to pay $3,580 costs.

The Geelong Magistrates Court heard that on 6 May 2016 a 29-year-old yard hand working at the transfer station was walking back from a pile of waste carrying a sheet of material when he was struck by the skid steer loader as it was reversing.

The man then fell under the machine and was run over.  He died at the scene.

The court heard that while The Company had some safety measures in place at the time of the incident, including instructions for workers to keep certain distances from mobile machinery, these controls were not being monitored or adhered to.

It also heard that The Company did not have an adequate traffic management plan in place to separate workers from the machine while it was operating, and that workers were allowed to work in and around the machine.
 
Safety measures that should be considered include:
• Ensuring workers are provided with appropriate training and supervision.
• Ensuring workers and members of the public (such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorists) are isolated and separated from powered machinery and vehicles. 
• Ensuring appropriate signage is in place and barriers are erected where appropriate. 
• Identifying  and controlling visibility issues, particularly if lighting is poor (eg. fog, rain, night works).
• Ensuring the machinery is regularly inspected and maintained.
 
ISOsafe provide workplace  training, at your location and prepare compliance documents such as Traffic Management Plans to ensure complete compliance. Avoid workplace incidents and costly penalties – call ISOsafe today on 1300 789 132.

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