Dairy firm fined after worker injury

The Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factory Company pleaded guilty in Geelong Magistrates’ Court last week to not providing a safe working environment by failing to ensure the plant that was safe and without risks to health.

The court heard that on 7 August last year, the worker was working on a cheese line at the company’s Allansford factory when he attempted to unblock a cheese shredding machine.

The man was in the process of cleaning out the shredding machine when he accidentally fell forward and his right shoulder connected with the operating button of the cheese shredding machine.

His hand became caught and he suffered several injuries including the amputation of his index finger.

The court heard that the chute where the worker placed his hand did not have an interlock switch fitted to prevent the machine starting when the chute was removed.

It also heard the company had failed to conduct an adequate hazard identification risk assessment in relation to the shredding machine.