Zemek Engineering Pty Ltd

A Mackay based engineering company was fined $17,500 after a worker received injuries from a grinder, requiring surgery to repair tendons in his right thumb.

Zemek Engineering Pty Ltd pleaded guilty in the Mackay Industrial Magistrates Court to breaching sections of the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995, having failed to ensure the health and safety of workers at work.

The court heard that a labourer working for the company was grinding a 263 kilogram dump socket (mining equipment) when it moved. He released the grinder to try to stop the socket falling and the grinder made contact with his right thumb.

The court heard that prior to the incident the company had some documentation in place regarding workplace safety and the labourer had received an induction.

However the company's safety analysis of the work done by the labourer did not include the stability of the work.

The Magistrate ordered the company to pay costs of $1,755 and $62.50 court costs.