Prosecution summaries
Defendant:
Baralda Pty Ltd
Trading Name:
Perth Candy Company
Description of Breach(es)
Section: S19(1) and 19A(2)
Breach(es):
Being an employer, did not so far as was practicable, provide and maintain a working environment in which its employees were not exposed to hazards and by that failure caused its employee serious harm and contravened sections 19(1) and 19A(2) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984.
Background Details:
1. At all relevant times the material facts were as set out below.
2. From its workplace in Osborne Park the accused operated a business that manufactured rock candy, supplied retail outlets with both its rock candy and confectionary manufactured by other businesses.
3. When the rock candy had been cooked at the accused's workplace it was processed by machines which included a humbug cutting machine.
4. The humbug cutting machine consisted of brass guide rollers and a set of horizontal and vertical blades which chopped the candy rope into a humbug shape.
5. On 7 June 2005 the humbug cutting machine's blades were unguarded.
6. On that date a 27 year old male employee of the accused, was pulling the rope of candy through the brass guide rollers so it could feed into the horizontal and vertical blades of the humbug cutting machine when the candy jammed in the brass guide rollers. He reached over to unjam it by spinning the wheels of the brass guide roller with his left hand. When he did this his right hand accidentally touched the horizontal and vertical blades of the humbug cutting machine, and was pulled into it. It then began to crush and chop his fingers as it would candy. He screamed and pushed the emergency stop button with his left hand. His right middle finger had been pulled into the humbug cutting machine until the horizontal and vertical blades of the humbug cutting machine reached the main knuckle. His fingers were trapped in the humbug cutting machine.
7. It took between 15 minutes and half an hour for the humbug cutter to be dismantled and the employee's finger to be freed from it.
8. The employee's right middle finger was severely injured and his right ring finger was severely lacerated. Initially his right middle finger was repaired. This was unsuccessful and it was later amputated at the middle knuckle.
Charge Details:
Plead guilty on Monday, February 18, 2008 at Perth Magistrates Court.
Fine(s): $20,000
Costs: $2,080.70
Charge Number: P29789