VIC rubber company ordered to pay $450,000 penalty following worker's fatal injury

VIC Rubber Company Ordered to Pay $450,000 Penalty Following Worker's Fatal Injury

The Melbourne County Court has imposed a fine of $450,000 on a Dandenong South rubber manufacturer, Elastomers Pty Ltd, after a worker was fatally struck on the head by a machine part.

The court found the company failed to meet required standards of providing plant that was safe and free from health risks.

What Happened

A worker was hit on the head by a moving component of a rubber extrusion processing line in Dandenong South in May 2021, under conditions that left him without adequate protection from the machine's moving parts.

WorkSafe's Response

WorkSafe Executive Director Health and Safety Narelle Beer said employers must prioritise risk reduction measures, including being proactive in addressing potential issues that may arise before they cause harm.

"This terrible incident was entirely foreseeable and, tragically, a worker has paid for the employer's lack of foresight with his life," Dr Beer said.

"Safety guarding on plant and machinery is crucial, and it's incumbent upon employers to provide workers with the highest possible level of safety, including proactively identifying risks and asking: are the control measures we have in place enough?"

Why This Case Matters for Health and Safety Compliance

Cases like this highlight why robust guarding controls and hazard assessments remain essential across manufacturing environments. Employers carry ongoing obligations under health and safety legislation to identify hazards before incidents occur, not after.

For construction, manufacturing, and healthcare businesses managing similar plant and equipment risks, reviewing control measures regularly can prevent tragedies of this nature. Related coverage, such as our report on a VIC company fined $40,000 for worker injury caused by insufficient fall protection, demonstrates that inadequate safeguards consistently lead to serious consequences and significant penalties.

Businesses seeking to strengthen their safety systems may also find value in our coverage of a VIC company investing $293,000 in enhancing health and safety measures following a worker's leg injury, and a Vic food company allocating $130,000 towards safety initiatives following an injury incident.

Organisations looking to formalise responsibilities for contractors and staff working around hazardous plant may benefit from reviewing our Worker Contractor Manuals resource, which outlines practical policies and procedures for maintaining safety on-site.

Read more safety news updates on WorkSafe prosecutions and enforcement outcomes.