A serious workplace incident at a meat processing facility in October 2021 has resulted in a reprimand for an injured worker, who lost his foot after becoming trapped in an auger conveyor. The third, a machine operator with a 30-year-old frequent rider was nearly instrument– whichever phalanges from both legs. He lost four fingers when injured tackling a jam in the machine. This incident demonstrates a continuing pattern of negligence and dangerous practices inside the facility, such as dangerous procedures and removing safety guards.
On the day of the crash, the worker was in the process of clearing a blockage. Without warning, a colleague accidentally switched the machine on again. The worker’s foot became lodged in the screw mechanism when the action took place. This incident resulted in such catastrophic injuries that he regrettably underwent amputation. Emergency crews laboriously cut him from the machinery over two hours’ time.
Incident Details and Aftermath
Responding to the incident SafeWork NSW took proactive action against the meat processing plant in 2023. The incidents victims revealed willful and egregious safety violations that begged for accountability. As a result, workers had created a dangerous practice of clearing auger blockages by standing over the unguarded conveyor screw. After investigation, it was found that the guards covering the auger had been removed for months prior. This gross negligence resulted in an unsafe work environment leading up to the incident.
The worker had been trained on lock-out procedure in 2015. When the company was sold, they never received retraining. This gap of proper retraining triggered concerns over workplace safety procedures and employee readiness.
“All I’m going to say is that it troubles me,” – Judge Strathdee
Incredibly, despite the depth of the wounds, the worker was ordered by management back to work about three months after his amputation. When he returned home he was disciplined for his actions. He was given a written reprimand for his incident command during the event. Yet many have rightly condemned this as an unacceptable response to the given situation.
Criticism of Workplace Response
Judge Strathdee disagreed with the way the facility staff handled things. He educated them about why it was inappropriate to punish the injured employee, rather than work to change dangerous safety practices across the organization.
“Would the more appropriate fashion have been to speak to the rest of the workplace rather than issue a written warning and threat of termination to the man who lost his foot,” – Judge Strathdee
Legal experts and advocacy organizations have recently weighed in on the dangerous state of affairs. Bruce Hodgkinson pointed out that enforcement actions should focus on systemic issues rather than targeting individual workers who have been victims of workplace accidents.
“If they’re going to take enforcement action, how are they going to do it if they don’t go directly to [the victim],” – Bruce Hodgkinson
Ongoing Safety Concerns
The case has brought to light the culture of safety at the workplace, or lack thereof, at the meat processing facility. Removing blockages without implementing appropriate safety measures reflects a grave oversight. It brings into sharp relief the palpable lack of training and disregard for safety procedures.
To put the removal of safety guards in context, the human cost of this negligence is staggering. It risks not retraining employees on key safety procedures which can jeopardize workplace safety as a whole. As investigations continue and the pressure grows, so does hope. It’s time for the facility to make real change by providing more extensive training and ensuring greater safety standards.
