Gin explosion results in $50,000 fine for distiller

WorkSafe Victoria has reported that Rutherglen winery and gin distiller has been fined an aggregate $50,000 after an explosion and fireball injured workers and customers during a ‘distiller for a day’ experience.

The company was sentenced without conviction in the Wodonga Magistrates’ Court and ordered to pay $4015 in costs.

The company earlier pleaded guilty to one charge of failing to provide necessary information, instruction and training for employees to work safely; and one charge of failing to ensure persons other than employees were not exposed to health and safety risks.

In April 2022, a group of 11 customers were taking part in a personalised gin-making event at the company’s distillery, when a 330 L copper pot still exploded, lifting up and sending out a fireball that set the venue’s floor alight.

Two workers and six customers were injured, with one customer taken to hospital and treated for burns to his face, forearm and neck, while another suffered burns to her leg, and another burns to her lower back.

WorkSafe Executive Director of Health and Safety Sam Jenkin said providing workers with information about risks and appropriate training to use tools and machinery was crucial to keeping a workplace safe.

“If an employer doesn’t take the time to properly identify hazards, share this information with workers and instruct them in how to control the risks — then it’s likely only a matter of time before something goes wrong,” Jenkin said.

Image credit: iStock.com/Ekaterina Fedulyeva