TWO companies have been fined more than $250,000 for a workplace accident in which a man’s leg was crushed while he was working on a reservoir at Eraring power station.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The WesTrac employee was sent to the site on July 2, 2009, to repair a dozer that had been leased to earthmoving company Hardy Bros Mining and Constructions Pty Ltd, the NSW Industrial Court heard.
Hardy Bros was contracted to help build a cooling water-storage reservoir for the power station, the court was told.
The victim and other workers were attaching a 1352-kilogram piece of equipment to the dozer when the part fell and struck the victim in the back before falling on his right leg and left foot.
His leg was later amputated below the knee.
WesTrac, Hardy Bros and Hardy Bros director Robert Hardy all pleaded guilty to offences under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Justice Haylen said they had failed to provide a safe system of work and did not provide adequate equipment for carrying out the replacement of the part.
WesTrac was fined $150,000, Hardy Bros $105,000 and Robert Hardy $11,250. They were also ordered to pay costs.
‘‘The evidence demonstrates that [the offenders] have taken responsibility in different ways for their acts and omissions in relation to this accident,’’ Justice Haylen said.
‘‘In particular, WesTrac has provided not only financial [support], but support at many levels for [the victim] from the time of his hospitalisation through to his rehabilitation, and in securing a career for him within the company structure.
‘‘It is to be noted that, despite its extensive safety programs, there remained a significant gap in [WesTrac’s] safety processes relating to repairs in the field.’’
