Takeaway fined $75,000 after worker’s hair caught in rotisserie

The Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court sentenced the company in its absence last Tuesday on the two charges. It was also ordered to pay $5,682 in costs.

In February 2022, the 22-year-old worker was reaching for a takeaway container lid stored on a high shelf when her hair caught in a rotating cog at the top of the rotisserie.

She called for help and a co-worker pressed the emergency stop button. A hairdresser from a neighbouring business cut her hair free from the machine. The worker lost a significant amount of hair, suffered head swelling and was taken to hospital. She spent two weeks off work.

The injured worker and a co-worker who was present told WorkSafe they first learnt that workplace policies and procedures existed, and where to find them, at a training night held after the incident.

Reasonably practicable measures available to the company included requiring hairnets and/or long hair to be secured in a bun, and keeping takeaway containers off the shelf above the rotisserie. The company could also have provided the information, instruction and training needed for workers to follow the safe system and understand the risks of working near the machine.

WorkSafe Executive Director Health and Safety Sam Jenkin said there was no excuse for failing to manage the obvious risks, and that the incident could have been worse.

“A large cohort of workers within the hospitality industry are young and inexperienced and, at the very least, they deserve proper training, instruction and supervision to do their jobs safely,” Mr Jenkin said.

“Simple measures such as storing items away from danger areas and ensuring workers secured hair appropriately could have prevented a traumatic physical injury.”

How Blue Safe can help: Our free WHS self-check can help you review your approach to workplace safety and identify areas for closer attention, including worker information, instruction and training. Take the free WHS self-check