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Prosecution Details

Defendant Western Australian Meat Marketing Co-operative Ltd
Regulation 4.37(1)(b)
Offence Date Monday, 23 July 2001
Description of Breach(es)

Being an employer at a workplace, failed to provide measures to prevent, as far as was practicable, the use of plant, namely a conveyor, in a manner that could render that plant a hazard to a person at the workplace.

Background Details

The defendant operates an abattoir in Katanning. On 23 July 2001 an employee was working on a roller conveyor and was required to push and pull boxes of frozen meat that had left the boning room from the roller conveyor into and out of the auto blast freezer.

The employee was wearing thick vinyl freezer gloves whilst working on the roller conveyor. When the employee went for a break from his duties he took the freezer gloves off. After his break the employee (who had not put the freezer gloves back on) placed his left hand on the roller casing and his left middle finger became caught in the roller conveyor chain and the sprocket cog. The conveyer severed the top part of the employee's left middle finger, down to the bottom of the fingernail.

At the time of the accident part of the guard covering the chains and cogs of the conveyor was missing. After the accident the defendant replaced the missing guarding.

The defendant pleaded guilty.




Outcome Summary convicted
Conviction Date 06 Nov 2002
Court Perth Court of Petty Sessions
Fine $3,000
Costs $322.70
Charge Number KT218/02