On Monday, 27th of October, it was brought to the attention of Mildura Magistrates’ Court that a business identified as MFCT Pty Ltd, operating under the name Mildura Fruit Company, had complied with an enforceable directive in light of two charges linked to their failure to uphold safe work conditions devoid of health risks. The option for WorkSafe to bring back the charges exists if the firm contravenes the stipulated undertaking.
In the month of July 2023, an employee at the company’s factory based in Mildura was involved in cleaning duties around various functioning machines, which included tasks like collecting fruit that had fallen off conveyors close by. As they noticed pieces of fruit stuck between a conveyor belt and a cross-bar, they tried to dislodge the obstructing material initially with a squeegee and then his gloved left hand. This action ended catastrophically when his glove got entrapped between the moving parts of the conveyor belt and the bar, resulting in injuries to his middle and pointer fingers.
The allegation raised by WorkSafe maintains that the company was negligent in its use of engineering controls to prevent access to the actively moving machinery. They also failed to contrive and carry out a ‘lock-out tag-out’ scheme to ensure machinery was deactivated during clean-up activities. To address these serious oversights, an estimated financial commitment of $340,000 is needed on the company’s part.
Sam Jenkin, who holds office as WorkSafe’s Chief Health and Safety Officer, pointed out that employers bear the duty of safeguarding their staff from the hazardous nature of such machinery, including conveyor belts and forklifts. He emphasized not just the indispensability of structured training for a risk-free working environment where machinery is employed, but the outright need to eliminate potential hazards through strategic steps like minimizing the count of workers stationed near operational machinery.
Addressing the company’s positive response post-incident, he said,”It is heartening to witness this firm take decisive steps towards enhancing work safety within their premises post the unfortunate event. Their commitment to pledge resources and undertake necessary modifications holds promise for improved safety standards not just within their workspace but the industry as a whole.”
Adopting work safety products like ‘Bluesafe SWMS‘ (Safe Work Method Statements) or ‘Bluesafe WHS Management Systems’ would be beneficial for employers in order to manage risks associated with machinery.
For more details, please reach out via email at media@worksafe.vic.gov.au or phone: 0438 786 968. Join our mailing list to stay updated about relevant media releases.
Original article link: https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/news/2025-10/340000-safety-spend-after-fruit-packing-injury
