Issue Date:  -  Friday, 29 July 2005

Court case leads to reminder on providing a safe workplace Red Rooster Foods Pty. Ltd.

A fast food company has been fined $5000 for failing to provide and maintain a safe working environment for its employees after a young worker sustained a serious knee injury.

Red Rooster Foods Pty Ltd was convicted in the Magistrate’s Court of WA Perth last week of failing to provide and maintain a working environment in which its employees were not exposed to hazards.

In August 2003, a 15-year-old employee at Red Rooster’s Ardross outlet stepped onto a lid covering a grease drain.  The lid flipped up and the employee’s right leg went into the exposed opening of the drain.

The employee’s knee ligaments were seriously damaged, and he underwent a full knee reconstruction later that week.

The lid to the drain was found to have had no lugs or legs to hold it in place, allowing it to slide off under pressure.  Legs were welded onto the lid to hold it in place after this incident occurred.

WorkSafe WA Commissioner Nina Lyhne said today that the case was a reminder of the importance of guarding against slips and trips in workplaces and the need to provide a safe workplace for new and young workers.

“WorkSafe has established eight priority areas that have consistently shown higher than average rates of workplace injuries and deaths,” Ms Lyhne said.

“New and young workers and slips and trips are two of these priority areas, which are particularly targeted by WorkSafe for education and enforcement action.

“It is a sad fact that an average of four young workers between the ages of 15 and 24 die in WA workplaces each year, and around 4000 more require time off for work-related injuries and diseases.

“Slips and trips are also very common in workplaces and can result in serious injuries, especially when the fall involves the employee striking an object on the way down.

“The employer in this case organised for a simple preventative measure to be put into place after the injury had occurred, but obviously this young man would not have had to undergo surgery and suffer the pain and inconvenience of his injury if something had been done sooner.

“I strongly urge all employers to take a look around their workplaces, identify any hazard that could cause an injury, illness or even death, then take action to reduce or eliminate those risks.”

Further information on new and young workers and slips and trips can be obtained by telephoning WorkSafe on 9327 8777 or on the website at www.safetyline.wa.gov.au.