Urgent Warning: Surge in Safety Breaches Linked to Machine Guarding

The following is an abridgement of an article originally published by SafeWork SA

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SafeWork SA has issued an urgent warning to businesses following a significant increase in safety breaches related to machine guarding. In just the first four weeks of the 2024/25 financial year, 29 notices for machine guarding offences have been issued, compared to 120 for the entire previous financial year.

Alarming Statistics

Of the 29 notices issued so far this financial year, 13 were for incidents where interlocking guarding was overridden. Interlocking guards are crucial safety devices that prevent machinery from operating when safety doors are open or guards are not in place. SafeWork SA emphasises that disabling these safety features is a serious violation of work health and safety laws.

The 29 breaches this year include:

• 10 Improvement Notices: These require businesses to address and rectify safety issues.
• 19 Prohibition Notices: These mandate an immediate halt to unsafe activities until they can be conducted safely.

In the past three financial years, a total of 313 notices for guarding offences were issued, comprising 172 improvement notices and 141 prohibition notices.

Legal Requirements and Penalties

According to Regulation 208 (3) of the Work Health & Safety Regulations (2012), businesses must ensure that machine guards are solidly constructed, securely mounted, well-maintained, and not easily bypassed.

From 1 July 2024, South Australia has introduced tougher penalties for work health and safety violations, including an industrial manslaughter offence. This serves as a stark reminder for business owners to take their workers' health and safety seriously and prioritise effective risk management.

Safety Tips for Businesses

To ensure worker safety and compliance with safety regulations, businesses should:

• Identify Hazards: Conduct thorough assessments to identify all potential hazards associated with plant and machinery.
• Maintain Guards: Regularly inspect machinery to ensure all guards and interlock systems are intact and functioning properly.
• Train Workers: Educate workers on the importance of machine guarding and proper use of interlock systems.
• Prevent Tampering: Implement strict protocols to prevent unauthorised overriding of safety systems.
• Report Issues: Encourage workers to immediately report any safety concerns or equipment malfunctions.

SafeWork SA's Call to Action

SafeWork SA's Executive Director of Health and Safety, Sam Jenkin, underscores the critical importance of these measures. He highlights,

"The significant increase in machine guarding breaches is alarming. Businesses must understand the severe consequences of disabling safety devices and take all necessary steps to protect their workers."