A Victorian plastics manufacturer has been fined $40,000 following a grisly workplace injury.

Class Plastics (Aust) Pty Ltd has been fined after a worker suffered severe head injuries due to unsafe machinery. 

The Sunshine Magistrates' Court imposed the penalty without conviction. The company also faced $4,000 in legal costs after admitting it failed to maintain safe equipment.

The incident occurred in April 2022 at the company’s Truganina facility. 

A supervisor, responding to a malfunction in a plastic blow moulding machine, suffered life-threatening injuries when his head became trapped between a moving bar and the machine's frame. 

The injuries included a fractured skull, traumatic brain injury, and intracranial bleeding, necessitating immediate surgery.

Investigations revealed the machine's safety interlock system, designed to prevent operation while access doors were open, had been disabled. Sensors meant to trigger the system were covered with tape. 

The court heard that regular inspections and maintenance could have mitigated the risks.

“This case clearly demonstrates the horrific and life-changing injuries that can result from workplace incidents,” said WorkSafe Executive Director Health and Safety, Sam Jenkin.

“There is no excuse for not taking every reasonable step to prioritise worker safety.”

WorkSafe Victoria has urged employers to adhere to stringent safety protocols to avoid machinery-related injuries. Recommendations include:

  • Identifying hazards and mitigating risks through isolation or alternative solutions

  • Training workers in machine operation and providing written procedures in their preferred language

  • Regularly inspecting and maintaining safety mechanisms such as guards and sensors

  • Placing warning signs on or near machinery

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