A Marrickville baking products manufacturing company has been fined more than $150,000 after a worker suffered serious injuries when her hand became trapped in a machine.
A Confeta Pty Ltd employee was using a folded cup machine unsupervised when her right hand became caught by part of the machine.
The worker sustained severe crush and burn injuries to her right hand and was trapped in the machine until co-workers freed her.
Minister for Better Regulation Matt Kean said Confeta was sentenced at the District Court of NSW for failing to comply with health and safety laws.
"This woman was in hospital for more than a month after this tragic incident in August 2012," Mr Kean said.
"She’s still struggling daily with life-changing challenges because of this injury.
"Confeta did not give its employee proper training and it didn’t adequately assess or control the risks the machine posed."
The Court noted before this incident, other Confeta workers had also sustained serious injuries while using the folded cup machine.
"This was entirely preventable, and should serve as a strong reminder to all businesses that worker safety should always be the number one priority," Mr Kean said.
Confeta pleaded guilty and was convicted of three offences, including failing to notify SafeWork and disturbing the site before an inspector arrived. It was fined a total of $157,500.
Under the NSW Coalition Government, SafeWork NSW has already met and exceeded targets for reducing fatalities and serious injuries and illnesses.
Mr Kean launched an even more ambitious Work Health and Safety Roadmap in September, setting out a raft of ambitious targets and aiming to achieve more reductions in work-related fatalities, serious injuries and illnesses by 2022.
Confeta has the right to lodge an appeal.
