Man burnt in 82C water at meatworks

THE operator of the Longford meatworks denies reckless conduct led to a worker falling into a tub of scorching hot water, an incident which caused the man to sustain second and third-degree burns.

JBS Australia Pty Ltd faces a maximum fine of $600,000 if it is found guilty of recklessly endangering a person to the risk of death or serious injury.

John Kiriona-Hodge suffered burns to his lower legs and feet on November 23, 2016, after he lost his footing and slipped into a wash tub filled with 82C water.

Mr Kiriona-Hodge was working in the offal room at the time, putting pieces of tripe into a pre-wash basket that was raised to tip the tripe into the cooker.

Prosecutors allege JBS knew from May 31, 2016, that pieces of tripe would become stuck in holes of the pre-wash basket, requiring workers to climb on to the basket’s edge to push the tripe into the cooker.

The company was charged with committing a Category 1 offence, the most serious under the Commonwealth Work Health and Safety Act, which alleges its conduct was reckless.

Defence barrister Stephen Russell, representing JBS in the Launceston Magistrates Court yesterday, said while facts of the matter were not in dispute, the case against the company was “not anywhere near” one of recklessness.

Mr Russell said the company would plead guilty to a Category 2 offence, which carries a maximum fine of $300,000, and one count of failing in its duty to consult workers, an offence with a maximum penalty of $100,000.

However, Mr Russell suggested magistrate Simon Brown order an outline of the prosecution argument against JBS on the more serious Category 1 charge, which the company plans to contest at a twoday hearing later this year.

Prosecutors say JBS failed to adequately monitor and respond to the effects of the removal of bleach from the tripewashing process, and failed to develop and implement a safe system of work that did not require workers climbing and standing on the pre-wash tub to free pieces of tripe.

JBS has also been accused of failing to develop a safe system of work by not using cooler water in its pre-wash tub.

Mr Brown adjourned the case until November for a hearing.

The prosecution was given 45 days to outline its case, with the defence given 60 days to outline its own submissions.