WorkSafe

A Welshpool engineering company and its director have been fined a total of $460,000 (and ordered to pay $5000 in costs) over the death of a worker who was crushed by a piece of pipe that fell off a semi-trailer that was being unloaded.

VDM Engineering Pty Ltd and director David Van De Meeberg pleaded guilty to failing to provide and maintain a safe work environment and, by that failure, causing the death of a person who was not an employee, and were fined in the Perth Magistrates Court on Monday.

VDM was fined $390,000 and Mr Van De Meeberg $70,000.

A ground and air cargo services company has been fined $110,000 (and ordered to pay $8000 in costs) over an incident in which a baggage handler was seriously injured when he fell from a moving baggage tug at Perth Airport.

Swissport Australia Pty Ltd pleaded guilty to failing to provide and maintain a safe workplace and, by that failure, causing serious injury to a worker, and was fined in the Perth Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

WorkSafe is investigating the work-related death of a 59-year-old farmer at a property 20km north of Esperance yesterday.

The man was reported to have been performing repairs under a seed bin when the bin fell on him, inflicting fatal crush injuries.

WorkSafe investigators examine the circumstances of incidents with a view to ensuring compliance and preventing future incidents of a similar nature.

WorkSafe WA Commissioner Darren Kavanagh said any work-related death was a tragedy, and relayed his sincere condolences to the man’s family and workers at the farm.

WorkSafe is investigating the possible work-related death of a 68-year-old farmer near Beverley yesterday.

The man was reported to have been working on a farm when he was struck by machinery.

WorkSafe investigators examine the circumstances of incidents with a view to ensuring compliance and preventing future incidents of a similar nature.

WorkSafe Commissioner Darren Kavanagh said any work-related death was a tragedy, and relayed his sincere condolences to the man’s family.

The Commissioner initiated an Inquiry into safety in the agriculture sector in June.

WorkSafe is investigating the work-related death of a 35-year-old female farmhand at a property near Collie on the 20 October.

The woman was reported to have been thrown from a quad bike while rounding up cattle, which resulted in fatal injuries.

WorkSafe investigators examine the circumstances of incidents with a view to ensuring compliance and preventing future incidents of a similar nature.

WorkSafe WA Commissioner Darren Kavanagh said any work-related death was a tragedy, and relayed his sincere condolences to the woman’s family and other workers at the farm.

WorkSafe is investigating the work-related death of a 50-year-old man at Bibra Lake on 18 October 2022.

Investigators have responded to a report of an incident at the premises of transport and logistics company Matic Transport.

WorkSafe investigators examine the circumstances of incidents with a view to ensuring compliance and preventing future incidents of a similar nature.

WorkSafe WA Commissioner Darren Kavanagh said any work-related death was a tragedy, and relayed his sincere condolences to the man’s family and workers at the workplace.

Two companies have been fined a total of $800,000 over the death of a worker at a Welshpool factory in 2019.

L&M Radiator Pty Ltd, a company that manufactures, services and repairs large industrial radiators, pleaded guilty to failing to provide and maintain a safe work environment and, by that failure, causing the death of an employee and was fined $500,000 (and ordered to pay $11,211.50 in costs) in the Perth Magistrates Court last week.

A company involved in steel importation and land development has been fined a total of $240,000 (and ordered to pay $30,581 in costs) over an incident in which a 19-year-old worker had seven fingers amputated by forklift chains.

PT Supplies Group Pty Ltd pleaded guilty after trial to failing to provide a safe work environment and, by that failure, causing serious harm to a worker and was fined $220,000 in the Perth Magistrates Court on Monday.

The company was fined an additional $20,000 for failing to notify the WorkSafe Commissioner forthwith of the notifiable injury.

A Kununurra hydraulic repair company has been fined $375,000 and its sole director has been fined $60,000 (and ordered to pay $4456.30 in costs) over an incident that left a 19-year-old worker with serious head injuries.

CDM Hydraulics Pty Ltd and director Clinton Douglas Morey pleaded guilty to failing to provide and maintain a safe work environment and, by that failure, causing serious injury to a worker and were fined in the Kununurra Magistrates Court last week.

A Perth freight transport company has been fined $40,000 (and ordered to pay $18,996.30 in costs) after the court decided it failed to provide a safe workplace for employees.

Centurion Transport Co Pty Ltd pleaded guilty to failing to provide and maintain a safe work environment for persons engaged by its contractors, and was fined in the Perth Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

In October 2017, Centurion had contracted State Haul to provide additional trucks, and drivers from State Haul were engaged as a “two-up team” on a long distance drive in North-West WA.