VIC company fined after a worker's arm became trapped in a shredder

VIC Company Fined After a Worker's Arm Became Trapped in a Shredder

A Victorian scrap metal recycling business has been fined $40,000 after a contractor's arm became trapped in a shredding machine that lacked proper guarding. This case highlights ongoing risk in facilities where machinery guarding fails to meet workplace safety standards.

Summary of the Incident

The company faced sentencing in Sunshine Magistrates' Court after pleading guilty to two counts of failing to provide a safe working environment. Rather than recording a conviction, the court imposed a fine and ordered the business to cover costs totaling $4,132.

According to WorkSafe Victoria, the incident occurred because the shredder lacked adequate guarding, exposing the contractor to a serious risk of injury. This mirrors circumstances seen in other cases, such as the VIC company fined after worker's hand crushed in machinery.

WorkSafe's Response and Industry Obligations

WorkSafe Executive Director Health and Safety Narelle Beer said those who control or manage workplaces carry direct responsibility for ensuring safe operation of equipment. She emphasised that health and safety obligations extend to every piece of plant used on site, particularly machinery capable of causing severe harm.

Beer's comments reinforce a consistent theme across recent enforcement news: businesses managing high-risk equipment must prioritise safe systems of work over shortcuts that increase risk to personnel. Similar findings emerged in the WA engineering company fined after worker lost part of his arm case, where inadequate machine guarding again proved central to the investigation.

Why Machine Guarding Matters

Effective guarding remains one of the simplest yet most overlooked controls for reducing risk around shredders, presses and other industrial machinery. Facilities handling scrap metal, recycling materials or heavy manufacturing equipment face elevated risk when guarding fails or gets bypassed during operation.

• Guards must prevent access to moving parts capable of causing entrapment injuries
• Regular inspection schedules help identify guarding faults before incidents occur
• Staff and contractors need training on safe operating procedures for high-risk machinery
• Employers must document safety measures to demonstrate compliance with health and safety duties

Comparable incidents overseas reinforce this message. A separate case involving a company fined after New Zealand worker loses arm in conveyor belt incident shows entrapment risk isn't limited to any single industry or piece of equipment.

Building a Safer Workplace

Businesses operating heavy machinery should treat guarding failures as a critical risk requiring immediate action. Establishing clear health and safety policies, alongside routine risk assessments, helps ensure equipment stays safe for workers and contractors alike.

Organisations managing contractors on site may also benefit from reviewing their worker contractor manuals to confirm safety expectations are clearly communicated before work begins.

For further news and guidance on workplace safety obligations, visit the WorkSafe Victoria website.