Worker Sustained Head Injury From Garbage Bin Lifting Arm
Citywide Service Solutions, an Australian garbage collection company, was recently fined $42,000 after a worker sustained a head injury from a bin lifting arm.
According to Australia’s Safe to Work, the employee was hit in the head when the 92kg bin lifting arm, which was fitted to a garbage truck, suddenly fell. The worker sustained serious injuries to his scalp and required approximately 40 stitches. He was out of work for six weeks following the accident, according to hearings conducted by the Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court, Victoria.
Started with Oil Leak Close to Truck’s Bin
The incident happened when the worker, who was a truck driver, noticed and oil leak close to the garbage truck’s bin lifting arm. He called one of the company’s mechanics to come and fix the leak.
While the mechanic was repairing the leak on the side of the road, the hydraulic pressure holding up the bin lifting arm was released. This caused the arm to drop quickly, and it struck the driver on the head.
Pleaded Guilty
The company pleaded guilty to a couple of offenses; the first of which was failing to provide a safe working environment and proper training to an employee, as required under OSHA (the Occupational Health and Safety Act).
The second offense was for failing to report the accident to WorkSafe. The company’s defense to this charge was that it didn’t believe it was required to report it because the employee was released from the hospital the same day.
Fined $42,000
The company was fined $40,000 on the first charge and $2,000 on the second by the court.
Author Michael B. Stack, CPA, Director of Operations, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. is an expert in employer communication systems and part of the Amaxx team helping companies reduce their workers compensation costs by 20% to 50%. He is a writer, speaker, and website publisher. www.reduceyourworkerscomp.com. Contact: mstack@reduceyourworkerscomp.com.
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