Food manufacturer commits to make workplace safer after incident

WorkSafe Victoria has reported that on 29 January 2025, the Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court heard Annex Foods Pty Ltd had entered into an enforceable undertaking while facing two charges of failing to provide a safe workplace.

The incident was reported back in January 2023, when a labour hire worker was cleaning a dosing hopper machine — which is used to blend and process powders — using a device known as a cleaning pig, which became stuck in the machine.

As the worker reached in to retrieve it, it is alleged that the machine was activated, partially severing his middle finger and causing lacerations to his index finger. The middle finger was able to be reattached.

WorkSafe Victoria alleges it was reasonably practicable for Annex Foods to eliminate or reduce the risk of crushing or entanglement through a system of work that included a procedure to de-energise the machine, such as through a lock-out, tag-out system, when the cleaning pig became stuck; and by providing plant that de-energised the danger area during cleaning.

The estimated $130,700 undertaking requires the company to:

• Host and fund two free occupational health and safety workshops for manufacturing leaders and labour hire providers.
• Fund two six-month work placements for workers with a disability who are completing a Certificate IV in work health and safety.
• Allocate $20,000 to the company’s health and safety committee to develop safety initiatives with a particular focus on improving the safety of labour hire workers.
• Make a $40,000 donation to the Institute for Safety, Compensation and Recovery Research Industry Research Program.

WorkSafe Executive Director of Health and Safety Sam Jenkin said it was up to employers to ensure machinery and the systems of work for operating it were safe.

“Entanglement and amputation in machinery continues to be a major cause of injury among manufacturing workers, which is incredibly frustrating when the measures to reduce the risk are well known,” Jenkin said.

“The improvements promised in this case, and in particular the focus on labour hire workers, will help to prevent harm at this workplace and others in the industry.”

WorkSafe said it may reinstate the charges if the undertaking is contravened or withdrawn.

Image credit: iStock.com/MurzikNata