Firm fined $220k over work injury

since been decommissioned and the company was extremely upset a worker was injured.

The company, he said, did everything in its powers to help the injured employee and his family and kept a spot for him to return to work.

Donovan Group has never appeared in court on a matter such as this, its early guilty plea and its effort in having external people come in and undertake all machine guarding exercises were factors the court could take into account, he submitted.

After the sentencing, WorkSafe area investigation manager Danielle Henry urged vigilance on the risks of exposed machinery.

There was an assumption the standard operating procedures were for the safety supervisor to be familiar with, Henry said.

“This is yet another instance where the courts have clearly said it’s not acceptable to expose workers to risk of harm from unguarded machinery. There have been dozens of prosecutions for similar events.

“The solutions are available and effective, so there are no excuses. Clear guidance, standards, and options for machine guarding have existed for many years, and the wider manufacturing industry needs to do better.”