3 days ago
Massive $90,000 fine for steelmakers after horror workplace injury
A company has been issued a massive fine after a worker's hand was pulled into a bending machine and sustained a 'partial degloving'
WorkSafe Victoria said Retired AKZ Pty Ltd, which previously traded as AKZ Reinforcing Pty Ltd, pleaded guilty to two separate workplace safety charges in the Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court on Wednesday July 2.
It was convicted and fined $90,000 after the incident that hospitalised the worker.
The court heard the worker had been operating a machine designed to bend reinforced steel and was asked to do a type of bend he had not done before.
One of the steel bars began to twist as he bent it, and he guided it back into the machine with his hand – as he had allegedly been taught.
Unfortunately his glove was caught in the wired components of the bar and pulled his hand into the machine.
The worker then sustained what WorkSafe Victoria termed a 'partial degloving' of his left index finger and was taken to hospital.
An investigation by WorkSafe showed that a guard designed for the machine had not been fitted to its danger area, and the company's instructions to the worker 'directly contradicted' the machine's operating manual.
The manual instructed workers to stay at least two metres away from the machine while it was operating.
The court heard that the steelmaking company had a history of workplace health and safety offences including an incident in December 2024 for which it was fined $146,000 and three similar incidents with bending machines.
The company has had five employees sustain serious finger injuries.
WorkSafe Executive director of health and safety Sam Jenkin said AKZ's failure to learn from previous incidents should be a 'major red flag' to workers and the industry.
'WorkSafe keeps a watchful eye on businesses known for putting workers at risk and will continue taking enforcement action when appropriate,' Mr Jenkin said.
'Aside from the obvious – protecting workers from harm, avoiding tragedies and upholding legal duties – a company that prioritises health and safety generally has better reputation, stronger staff retention and less expenses in the long run.'
The company had worked on major projects in Victoria including the Suburban Rail Loop and the West Gate Tunnel.
