Flewell-Smith, B D & J trading as Topend Pineapples
Incident description:
An incident occurred when six workers were working on a pineapple harvester. The harvester’s boom conveyor feeds pineapples through a de-topping saw and onto a sorting platform. One of the workers noticed a backup of pineapples in the chute so he hit one of the emergency stop buttons so that one of the other workers could clear the chute. Neither worker hit the emergency stop button located on the saw assembly. After about thirty seconds, the first worker thought the other worker had finished clearing the chute so he released the emergency stop. The saw and conveyor immediately restarted, drawing the second worker’s right hand into the blade. The first worker immediately hit the emergency stop again, but the second worker’s wrist was severed. The worker’s hand was reattached, but he will never regain full use of his hand.
Investigation findings:
The company had instructed all workers at different times to hit the emergency stop button located above the blade before lifting the guard, but knew that lifting of the guard without initiating the emergency stop button was prevalent.
Considerations for prevention:
(Commentary under this heading may be additional to material before the court.)Guarding to the saw that incorporated a cut out switch coupled with a braked electric motor would have managed the hazard. Emergency safety switches used to stop the saw should only allow the saw to be restarted from the switch initially used to stop the machine.
Obligation holders should consider the requirements of section 27A of theWorkplace Health and Safety Act 1995 which outlines obligations relating to risk management. They should also consider the requirements of the Plant Code of Practice 2005, in particular part 1.1 Risk management for design of plant, part 5.4 Operation and part 5.22 Instructing, training and supervising workers; and requirements of Australian standard AS 4024 - Safety of Machinery and Design Criteria for Safety Stops.
Court result:
The company was found guilty and fined $6,750 with no conviction recorded.
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Industry:
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Rural
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Defendant:
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Flewell-Smith, B D & J (ABN 28 202 565 198), trading as Topend Pineapples
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Date of offence:
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16 May 2006
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Location of offence:
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Child Road, Wamuran, north west of Brisbane
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Injury:
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Amputated right hand - reattached
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Offence:
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Grievous bodily harm
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Court:
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Caboolture Industrial Magistrates Court
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Magistrate:
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Mr P Hastie
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Legislation:
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s.28(1) Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995
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Plea:
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Guilty
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Decision date:
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1 June 2007
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Penalty:
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$6,750
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Maximum fine available:
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$75,000
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Investigation costs:
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$1,776.23
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Professional and legal costs:
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-
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Court costs:
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$65.40
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In default period to pay:
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1 month, in default 3 months imprisonment
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Conviction recorded:
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No
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CIS No.:
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48834
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