Plastics manufacturer fined $90,000 after worker loses finger
19 Mar 2026•BlueSafe Team•Source: WorkSafe VIC
A & J Australia Pty Ltd has been fined $90,000 after a worker’s right index finger was severed while he tried to clear a jam in a granulator.
The Melbourne Magistrates' Court sentenced the company on Thursday 5 March after it pleaded guilty to one charge of failing to provide and maintain a working environment that was safe and without risks to health. It was also ordered to pay $5,966 in costs.
The incident occurred in October 2024 while the worker was using a recently acquired granulator to break down rejected plastic products for re-use. Other granulators at the workplace used fans to blow out plastic dust, but this machine had an auger attachment with a rotating screw to move shredded material.
The court heard that the machine became stuck and the worker saw material had built up around the rotating screw, causing a jam. His right index finger was severed as he tried to remove the blockage, and he was taken to hospital for surgery.
WorkSafe's investigation found the workplace lacked clearly defined management roles and responsibilities for introducing new machinery. There were also no procedures or checklists setting out minimum safety requirements for new machinery.
The company admitted it was reasonably practicable to eliminate or reduce the risks by fitting a permanent fixed physical barrier over the granulator's inlet, installing an interlock that would de-energise the granulator and auger attachment when the attachment was removed, or using both measures.
WorkSafe Chief Health and Safety Officer Sam Jenkin said every Victorian worker had the right to attend work without fear of serious injury. "Far too often we see workers injured due to moving parts of machinery when there are simple methods to reduce the risk of hands and fingers being crushed or severed," Mr Jenkin said.
"Every employer has a responsibility to ensure they develop safe systems and processes to properly identify and manage hazards as they emerge, including when introducing workers to new machinery."
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