​Melbourne fast food restaurant ordered to pay $75,000 following incident where hair got stuck in rotisserie machine

Melbourne Fast Food Restaurant Ordered to Pay $75,000 Following Incident Where Hair Got Stuck in Rotisserie Machine

A Melbourne takeaway shop Souvlaki Gr has been convicted and ordered to pay $75,000 after a worker's ponytail became entangled in an unprotected rotisserie machine at one of its stores more than two years ago.

The fast-food business recently received sentencing without the presence of all parties involved in the Heidelberg Magistrates' Court for failing to provide a safe system of work, plus sufficient information, instruction, and training.

Melbourne's food outlet was further directed to cover $5,682 in expenses, bringing home the financial weight of overlooking basic workplace safety obligations.

What Happened at the Melbourne Store

A 22-year-old worker was attempting to retrieve a lid from a high shelf in February 2022 when her hair got caught in the rotating gear of the store's rotisserie machine.

She was caught in machinery that lacked adequate guarding, an oversight that safety regulators consider a fundamental breach of duty owed to employees under Victorian workplace legislation.

Why This Safety Failure Matters

Rotating machinery poses a well-documented entanglement hazard, particularly for workers with long hair working near unguarded gears or moving parts. Safety professionals in food service and hospitality settings should treat this case as a reminder that routine tasks, such as reaching for a lid, can turn hazardous without proper controls.

Effective safety management requires more than reactive fixes after an incident occurs. It demands proactive hazard identification, machine guarding, and consistent training so staff understand risks before they're exposed to them.

• Machine guards must be fitted and maintained on all rotating equipment
• Staff require documented training on safe operation of kitchen machinery
• Long hair and loose clothing hazards should be addressed through policy and PPE
• Regular safety audits help identify unguarded machinery before an incident happens

For businesses seeking to strengthen their safety documentation, SafetyDocs offers a Food & Beverage Hospitality Combo Pack covering the procedures needed to reduce machinery-related risks in commercial kitchens.

Lessons for Food & Beverage Employers

This case echoes other recent enforcement news across Victoria's food sector. Earlier this year, a Victorian food company allocated $130,000 towards safety initiatives following a separate injury incident, demonstrating that regulators expect sustained investment, not just penalty payments, after a breach.

Similar enforcement news has emerged from other industries too. A Victorian rubber company was ordered to pay $450,000 following a worker's fatal injury, while a Melbourne worker died following a separate machinery crushing incident, underscoring how machine guarding failures continue to generate serious safety news across sectors.

These cases, together with the rotisserie machine incident, highlight a consistent pattern: inadequate guarding combined with insufficient training creates conditions where a worker's routine task becomes an entanglement risk.

Building Stronger Safe Operating Procedures

Documented safe operating procedures give staff clear guidance on how to interact with kitchen equipment safely. SafetyDocs' Food & Beverage Hospitality SOP Pack provides ready-to-use templates that outline correct procedures for operating rotisserie machines and other commercial cooking equipment.

Businesses can also review broader compliance obligations through the Food & Beverage Hospitality OHS-WHS Industry Suite, which supports employers in meeting duty-of-care requirements across kitchen operations.

Reporting and Managing Incidents

When an incident does occur, prompt and accurate reporting supports both worker recovery and regulatory compliance. SafetyDocs' Incident Management checklists, forms, and registers help businesses record details consistently and identify corrective actions swiftly.

Safety outcomes ultimately depend on whether lessons from past incidents translate into genuine changes on the shop floor. Robust guarding, clear procedures, and ongoing training remain the strongest defence against repeat safety failures in commercial kitchens.

Read more workplace safety news covering enforcement actions, penalties, and compliance updates across Australian industries.