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Prosecution Details

Defendant George Weston Foods Limited
Trading Name Watsons Foods (WA)
Section 22(1) and 22(4)
Regulation Not Applicable
Offence Date Thursday, 11 June 1998
Description of Breach(es)

Being a person who had control of a workplace where persons who were not its employees worked, failed to take such measures as were practicable to ensure that the workplace was such that a person who was at the workplace was not exposed to hazards.

Background Details

An employee from a transport company was loading carcasses from the defendant's cool rooms into his truck. The procedure called for a metal rail leading into the cool room to be attached to a metal rail inside the truck. The carcasses were then slid along the meat rail in the cool room and then lifted onto the truck rail and slid into the truck.

When he finished loading his truck and reach up to disconnect the truck rail from the rail leading to the cool room, the cool room rail fell downwards and struck him on the right side of the head. The man staggered and then collapsed unconscious.

The injured person sustained a 3 centimetre laceration to his head and was unconscious for approximately 3 hours. He resumed normal duties approximately 4 days after the incident.

The defendant subsequently attached a safety chain to the cool room rail to prevent it from becoming detached from the truck meat rails in the future (see photos)

The defendant pleaded guilty. The penalty was imposed under section 22(4) of the Act.




Lead Image
Outcome Summary

convicted

Conviction Date 09 Jun 1999
Court Fremantle Court of Petty Sessions
Fine $3,000
Costs $205
Charge Number 2919/99