Hay exporter fined $400,000 over fatal machinery incident
28 Mar 2025•BlueSafe Team•Source: WorkSafe VIC
Hay Australia Victoria Pty Ltd has been fined $400,000 after a worker was fatally crushed in machinery in February 2021. A jury found the company guilty of failing to provide and maintain safe plant.
The company, now known as 623452924HAV Pty Ltd, was sentenced in the Bendigo County Court following the jury's guilty verdict on a single charge.
The court heard the factory operated a large machine known as a multibaler, which had a section called the main line. A 29-year-old worker was working on that line when he became trapped between moving and stationary parts of the machine.
The worker sustained serious injuries to his head and chest and died at the scene.
WorkSafe's investigation identified a risk of serious injury or death if body parts were crushed between the machine's strapping arch and cutter box. The jury found the company could reasonably practicably have eliminated or reduced that risk by installing a light curtain on the main line to prevent access to the danger area.
WorkSafe Executive Director of Health and Safety Sam Jenkin said employers had no excuse for failing to protect workers from unguarded machinery. "Failing to properly guard every danger point on large and complicated machinery, including those outside the usual working area, is a recipe for disaster," Mr Jenkin said.
"This young man's life was tragically cut short due to the employer's failure and my heart goes out to the family, friends and colleagues left to endure such a devastating loss."
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