On Monday 27 October, the Mildura Magistrates' Court heard MFCT Pty Ltd, trading as Mildura Fruit Company, had entered into an enforceable undertaking while facing two charges of failing to ensure a workplace under its control was safe and without risks to health.
WorkSafe may reinstate the charges if the undertaking is contravened.
In July 2023, a worker was cleaning on and around several machines in operation at the company's Mildura factory, including sweeping up fruit that had dropped off nearby conveyors.
The worker noticed some fruit had become caught between the conveyor belt and a bar running across it and attempted to dislodge it - first using a squeegee and then his gloved left hand.
The glove was caught between the moving conveyor belt and the bar, causing injuries to his middle and pointer fingers.
WorkSafe alleged the company failed to use engineering controls that prevented access to moving plant and failed to devise and implement a lock-out tag-out procedure to ensure the plant was not operating during cleaning.
The estimated $340,000 undertaking requires the company to:
- Upgrade forklifts at the workplace with blue halo lights to project a three-metre pedestrian exclusion zone, as well as trial safety light detection and range warning technology;
- Donate $30,000 to Citrus Australia to fund professional safety speakers to attend grower industry events and address farm safety topics; and
- A $240,000 donation to Mildura Base Public Hospital Foundation to fund a mobile skin cancer screening vehicle.
WorkSafe Chief Health and Safety Officer Sam Jenkin said employers were responsible for protecting staff from the risks of machinery, including conveyor belts and forklifts.
"Training is always vital to a safe workplace where plant is used, but it is also necessary to eliminate risk by reducing the number of workers in close proximity to these machines while they're in operation," he said.
"It has been encouraging to see this company make changes to improve workplace safety since the incident, while also committing to delivering upgrades and resources that will help improve safety at their workplace and across the industry."
To manage risks when working with machinery employers should:
- Identify hazards, assess the risks associated with them and eliminate or control those risks by isolating them or using an alternative.
- Train staff in the safe operation of machines and equipment, and provide written procedures in the worker's first language.
- Develop and implement safe operating procedures in consultation with employees and health and safety representatives.
- Ensure safety guards and gates are compliant and fixed to machines at all times.
- Regularly service and inspect machines and equipment.
- Place signs on or near a machine to alert employees of the dangers of operating it.
