An industrial plastics manufacturer in Truganina has been fined $75,000 and convicted for having an unsafe plant following a worker suffering a traumatic brain injury in 2022.
In December 2024, Class Plastics (Aust) was fined $40,000 without conviction in the Sunshine Magistrates’ Court after pleading guilty to failing to maintain a plant that was safe and without health risks.
Following an appeal by WorkSafe, the Melbourne County Court dismissed the original sentence on Friday, April 11, imposing a conviction and increasing the fine to $75,000.
In addition to the conviction and fine, the company was also ordered to pay $4000 in other expenses.
In April 2022, a supervisor at the company’s Truganina factory was attempting to rectify an issue with a plastic blow moulding machine when his head was caught between a moving bar and the machine’s frame.
The man received a traumatic brain injury, fractured skull and intracranial bleeding which required immediate surgery.
A WorkSafe investigation found the machine’s interlock system, which should have stopped it from operating while the access doors were open, was disconnected and the sensors which should have activated it had been covered with tape.
It was found to be reasonably practicable for the company to have conducted regular inspections of the interlock system and checked that sensors and other safety devices on the machine weren’t compromised.
WorkSafe health and safety director Sam Jenkin said there would be absolutely no tolerance for employers who allowed unsafe machinery to operate in the workplace.
“Given the extensive guidance provided on the safe operation of machinery – and the number of tragedies that should serve as stark warnings – it’s hard to see this incident as anything but completely preventable,” Mr Jenkin said.
“Unfortunately, we still see far too many injuries and deaths involving machines that weren’t properly maintained or lacked appropriate safety features.”
