Prosecutions 2005 (PDF 3269kb) - WorkSafe Victoria

HEALTH AND SAFETY PROSECUTIONS
SANIKLEEN PTY LTD
Date of offence: 12 May 2004
Date of prosecution:
Magistrate:
Plea:
15 September 2005 at Seymour Magistrates’ Court
His Honour Magistrate Hassard
Guilty
On or about 10 May 2004, Ralph’s Meat Company Pty Ltd entered into a cleaning contract with
Sanikleen Pty Ltd, food industry cleaning specialists, for the provision of a total hygiene service
and the cleaning of the kill floor, the boning room, the offal room and entrances. Sanikleen Pty Ltd
provided Ralph’s Meats Company Pty Ltd with a copy of their cleaning procedure.
Sanikleen Pty Ltd employed a project manager and supervisor of the cleaning staff and was
responsible for providing induction to new employees.
On 12 May 2004, a 19 year old casual employee of Sanikleen Pty Ltd, on his first day at work, was
cleaning the underside frames of a conveyor belt whilst it was in motion. The employee became
entangled in the unguarded conveyor belt and sustained a de-gloving injury to his right arm.
An investigation by WorkSafe investigators following the incident found: there were no operating
controls or emergency stop controls in the vicinity of the conveyor belt; there was no guarding
to prevent bodily contact with the dangerous parts of the conveyor belt; there were inadequate
cleaning procedures – in particular, the procedure required the conveyor belt to be running while
the employees cleaned the area immediately around it; there was no isolation lock out procedure
in place when undertaking cleaning of plant; there was inadequate information, instruction,
supervision and training provided to the cleaners; and there was no hazard identification risk
assessment undertaken prior to the incident.
Breach: Sections 21(1) & (2)(a) and sections 21(1) & (2)(e) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1985.
Result: Convicted and fined an aggregate sum of $40,000.
PROSECUTIONS 2005
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