Nexsa fined $50,000 after worker dragged into unguarded machine
16 Aug 2024•BlueSafe Team•Source: WorkSafe VIC
Nexsa Pty Ltd has been fined $50,000 after a worker was dragged into a threading machine and suffered multiple serious injuries. A WorkSafe investigation found five identical machines at the workplace lacked guarding to prevent access to rotating parts.
Nexsa pleaded guilty to one charge of failing to provide or maintain plant that was safe and without risks to health. The Sunshine Magistrates' Court sentenced the company on Wednesday 7 August and also ordered it to pay $4,918 in costs.
The incident occurred in July 2022 while the worker was threading a length of reinforced steel bar. His left sleeve became caught, pulling him into the machine. It was running at its maximum speed of 100 RPM and was designed to keep operating until a stop button was pressed.
A colleague heard a bang and saw that the worker had been flipped over the machine onto the floor, with his arm twisted backwards around the steel bar. The colleague stopped the machine and cut through the bar with a grinder to free him.
The worker suffered fractures to his leg, forearm and ribs, a dislocated elbow, and cuts to his forehead, eye and ear. He required two operations and spent a significant period in hospital.
WorkSafe investigators found that none of the five identical machines at the workplace had guarding to prevent workers accessing rotating parts.
The court heard that reasonably practicable measures were available to reduce the risk. These included interlocked guarding over moving parts and any protruding end of the steel bar, a hold-to-run foot pedal with an overpressure switch, and an emergency stop button.
WorkSafe Executive Director of Health and Safety Sam Jenkin said the worker's serious injury should not have happened. “Our investigation revealed that there had been at least one previous similar incident of a worker becoming caught in a threading machine at this workplace that thankfully did not result in an injury,” Mr Jenkin said. “The company was well aware of the risk and had ample opportunity to install the necessary guarding to protect their workers but failed to do so.”
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