‘UNSAFE’ ON BASE
Defence charged over work accident
CHARGES have been laid against the Department of Defence after an RAAF corporal lost his leg when a maintenance operation went horribly wrong.
Corporal Jim Dwyer’s leg was severed when a three-tonne piece of machinery fell from a truck and landed on him on August 16, 2017, at RAAF Base Garbutt.
Cpl Dwyer, a fitter armourer, was left fighting for his life with critical injuries following the incident while he was on night shift.
The Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions has filed federal worker health and safety charges against the department.
The charges follow an investigation by Comcare into an incident at the Royal Australian Air Force base in Townsville in 2017.
Cpl Dwyer was among RAAF personnel tasked with removing the nylon belt from an aircraft arrestor unit designed to stop planes during emergencies.
The work was being carried out using a tow motor to remove the belt from a three-tonne arrestor unit on a flatback truck.
The unit fell from the truck and landed on Cpl Dwyer’s legs, severing one and causing severe injuries to the other.
Cpl Dwyer is being medically separated as a result of the injuries sustained and said he could not comment on the legal matter as he has no involvement because it was between the Department of Defence and Comcare.
The Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions filed three charges against the Department of Defence.
The charges are all under Category 2 offences under the federal Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and carry a maximum penalty of $1.5 million. It will be alleged the department failed in its duties under the WHS Act to provide safe systems of work, including failing to carry out adequate risk assessments and to secure the arrestor unit.
Cpl Dwyer, who now uses a prosthetic leg to walk, told the Bulletin in April that his life was forever changed that night.
“They (the doctors) managed to save my left foot, which was great because they really doubted they could at the time, Cpl Dwyer said.
“It’s been a blessing to avoid double prosthetics.”
This horrific accident has had lasting physical and invisible injuries for Cpl Dwyer.
“My mind plays some funny tricks with phantom pain,” he said. “It’s just a weird sensation that feels like someone is sticking pins into my toes.”
The matter is listed for mention in Townsville Magistrates Court on September 9. The Department of Defence was contacted for comment.