Food manufacturer fined $20,000 over hand injury
Issue Date: - Friday, 19 March 2010
Commercial food manufacturer Canon Foods was fined $20,000 yesterday after an employee lost two fingers in a cheese grinder.
In Armadale Magistrate’s Court, Canon Foods, a director and an employee pleaded guilty to charges under the Occupational Safety and Health Act:
Canon Foods was charged with failing to provide a safe working environment, causing serious harm to an employee;
director/manager John Frederick Dickenson was charged with neglect, and fined $1500, and
Production manager Ghiagarajan Gopal was charged with failing to take reasonable care, causing serious harm to another person. He was fined $1500.
The incident happened on 29 May 2006, when the employee was mincing blocks of cheese at Canon’s Canning Vale premises.
The employee turned the machine on and reached down to push the cheese into the auger. His left hand came into contact with the auger and cut off his index and middle fingers. The man was rushed to hospital.
WorkSafe told the court that the company director, Mr Dickenson, was in a position to observe the employee with his hand in the hopper.
The production manager, Mr Gopal, was in charge of day-to-day food processing operations and oversaw the staff. WorkSafe said he had seen staff pushing food into the auger while the grinder was operating, and had done so himself.
Mr Gopal was also aware that the step fixed to the front of the grinder had an interlock mechanism, and that it was not working at the time.
After the incident, Canon Foods installed an interlocking guard over the hopper so that employees could no longer reach into the hopper while the grinder was operating.
WorkSafe WA Commissioner Nina Lyhne said today that the case was a graphic reminder of the importance of guarding the moving parts of machinery.
“The employee’s serious injuries would have been avoided if the company had taken steps to install effective guarding,” Ms Lyhne said.
“Guarding of moving parts of machinery is vital, and is still one of the easiest and most obvious means of minimising the risk of injury to machinery operators. I strongly urge employers in workplaces with machinery to ensure that it is safe to operate.”
The accused company was ordered to pay $1900 in costs. Mr Dickenson and Mr Gopal were each ordered to pay $900.
Further information on safety of machinery can be obtained by telephoning WorkSafe on 9327 8777 or on the website at www.worksafe.wa.gov.au.
Media contact: Arthur Hanlon 9327 8654 or 0408 911 322 (media enquiries only)