Recycling Centre Fined $472,500 After Fatal Green Waste Grinder Incident
A recycling centre has been fined $472,500 in the District Court of NSW after a worker was fatally injured while clearing a green waste grinder blockage.
The following is an abridgement of an article originally published by SafeWork NSW.
Incident Summary
A recycling centre has been fined $472,500 in the District Court of NSW following a prosecution by SafeWork NSW.
The proceedings relate to an incident on 8 July 2022, when a worker was fatally injured while attempting to clear a blockage in a green waste grinder from within the feed chute.
Legal Outcome
The operating company pleaded guilty to an offence under section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) for failing to comply with its duty to workers under section 19(1) of the Act. The company retains the right to appeal the sentence.
Regulator Comment
SafeWork Commissioner Janet Schorer stated,
"Risk control measures for working with moving plant and fixed machinery are well known. Preventing injuries caused by mobile plant, vehicles or fixed machinery is an area for action in SafeWork NSW's regulatory priorities. Having an awareness and assessment of the risks, along with implementation of safe systems of work, is key to reducing the number of incidents related to moving plant. SafeWork NSW reminds all businesses of their duty to ensure their workers are protected when working with plant, machinery and equipment."
