Issue Date:  -  Tuesday, 20 September 2005

Fine leads to reminder on training and safe use of overhead cranes

A Welshpool engineering company has been fined $25,000 for failing to provide and maintain a safe working environment for its employees after a worker sustained serious hand and foot injuries.

J V Engineering (WA) Pty Ltd was convicted in the Magistrate’s Court of WA Perth this week of failing to provide a safe workplace, and by that failure, causing serious harm to an employee.

In April 2004, an employee at J V Engineering was instructed to move a large asymmetrical tank with a lid, but was given no instructions on how to move the tank or what attachment points to use, and was not told the tank had a lid.

The employee moved the tank using a two-leg chain assembly and an overhead crane, as he had seen this method used by his supervisor to move the tank earlier the same day.

While the employee was moving the tank and it was suspended from the crane, the tank tipped to one side and the 300kg lid slipped off and fell onto the employee’s left hand and left foot.

As a result of the incident, the employee suffered partial amputation of his left foot and injuries to his left middle finger.  His injuries are likely to be long-term, with inability to properly use his left foot, left middle finger and back.

WorkSafe WA Commissioner Nina Lyhne said today that the case was a reminder of the importance of implementing and enforcing safe systems of work and providing adequate training to employees.

“The employer in this case instructed the employee to undertake a task for which he had no qualifications or training,” Ms Lyhne said.

“He was not a qualified rigger or dogman, and had not been trained to select the appropriate equipment, technique and points by which to lift and move the tanks manufactured at the workshop.

“Other employees at the workplace were qualified to do the job, yet the employer instructed a person who was employed as a welder to do a job that should have been assigned to a qualified and trained person.

“Working with overhead cranes can be hazardous, and is a specialised area requiring tasks to be undertaken in the correct manner and within the bounds of established safe work practices.

“The incident had the potential to be a lot worse - if the 300kg tank lid had landed on the man’s head, he could easily have been killed.

“This workplace did not have adequate training or safe work procedures in place, and has suffered the consequences in a number of ways.

“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 safe work practices, overhead cranes and training can be obtained by telephoning WorkSafe on 9327 8777 or on the website at www.safetyline.wa.gov.au.