$20,000 Fine in WA after Finger Amputations

A Western Australian piling contractor has been fined $20,000 over an incident in 2008 in
which a concrete pump operator had three fingers amputated.
Belpile Pty Ltd pleaded guilty to failing to provide and maintain a safe work environment
and was fined in the Perth Magistrates Court in August.
In January 2008 on a construction site in Perth, the injured worker was instructed to
operate a concrete pump. Towards the end of his shift, the worker proceeded to clean the
pump he had been using. He raised the grate above the pump hopper unit and placed his
hand inside the hopper to remove some hardened grout. The swing tube rotated and
trapped part o f his hand between the pump inlet and the swing tube, severing three
fingers and part of his palm. Another employee quickly collected the severed fingers and
placed them on ice. As a consequence, all three fingers were successfully reattached.
The court heard that:
• There was a safety interlock device on the hopper of the pump, but it was not able
to function properly and the injured worker was not made aware of it.
• At the time of the incident, the pump was turned off but the engine was still
running. The pump operator had no formal qualifications, but had in the past
received some on-the-job training on the same type of pump when he worked under
an experienced pump operator for approximately 12 months.
• The company had systems of work in place for the operation and cleaning of the
concrete pump, but these procedures were not adequately explained to the injured
worker.
The operator’s manual explains the cleaning process and clearly states – warning: ‘at no
time shall a person place their hands, feet or any part of their person in the
hopper. Severe injuries can occur.’
Commenting on the successful prosecution, Acting WorkSafe WA Commissioner Lex
McCulloch said the case was a further reminder of the importance of having safe systems
of work in place, particularly when repairs or maintenance was being carried out:
There were a number of signs indicating warnings and hazards associated with the
hopper in the vicinity, but they were obscured by dirt and grout. The young man
who suffered the injury was solely responsible for carrying out daily safety checks,
but he had not been adequately trained in the safety measures. It’s disappointing
that the message is not getting across that it is never safe to leave a piece of
machinery operational while clearing obstructions or performing maintenance. This
case is a shocking reminder of the importance of having lockout and tagging
procedures in place and ensuring they are enforced.
Many workers have been seriously injured or killed when equipment or machinery
they were working on has been left energised or accidentally activated, so it
absolutely crucial that safe systems of work are in place.”

WA WorkSafe v Belpile Pty Ltd
Perth Magistrate’s Court
August 2011
Commentary on Judgment