WorkSafe

WorkSafe has commenced prosecution action against a Bassendean engineering company over the death of a worker who was crushed by machinery in May 2019.

Hofmann Engineering Pty Ltd has been charged with failing to provide a safe work environment and, by that failure, causing the death of an employee.

On May 9, 2019, a welder employed by Hofmann Engineering was in the fabrication workshop welding large gear segments with the aid of a welding manipulator.

The boom of the welding manipulator fell suddenly onto the worker, resulting in fatal crush injuries.

WorkSafe is investigating the work-related death this morning of a worker at a North Coogee salt refinery.

He was reported to have been working with a conveyor belt when he was caught in the belt.

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.

Media contact: Caroline De Vaney 6251 2363 or 0408 927563 (media enquiries only).

A transport service company has been fined a total of $89,000 (and ordered to pay $6807 in costs) after being convicted on 24 charges under the State’s workplace fatigue management laws.

JSS Logistics Pty Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching fatigue management regulations, and was fined in the Midland Magistrates Court yesterday.

A total of 21 charges related to breaches of hours of work fatigue regulations, for which JSS was given a global penalty of $80,000, and for three charges of breaching record keeping regulations the company was fined $9000.

WorkSafe Commissioner Darren Kavanagh will conduct an inquiry into the agricultural industry after the 12^th work-related death in 12 months in the sector yesterday.

A 24-year-old male died yesterday between Varley Creek and Lake King in the Great Southern. He was moving a bogged vehicle with a tractor when the towing equipment he was using failed and he was struck in the head, causing fatal injuries.

The Managing Director of a Bayswater recycling company has been fined $70,000 over an incident in which a labour hire worker’s arm was amputated at the shoulder.

Salvatore Tomo Mangione, Managing Director of Resource Recovery Solutions Pty Ltd, pleaded guilty to failing as a director to provide and maintain a safe work environment and, by that failure, causing serious harm to a labour hire worker and was fined in the Perth Magistrates Court yesterday.

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 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.