When thinking about hazardous workplaces, it’s easy to think of construction sites, forklifts and toxic substances. But workplace hazards can be a simple as minor floor spills and equipment issues.
This is certainly the case for a butcher and his first-year apprentice.
While making sausages, a very small piece of mince dropped on the floor and was missed during the clean-up. Once the sausages had been made, the apprentice was asked to link the sausages which he did use a wheeled trolley rather than a fixed bench.
When the trolley started to move, the apprentice tried to prevent the sausages from falling on the floor. He fell backwards, hitting a wall and badly injuring his back.
The apprentice sued the butcher claiming the employer was liable for the accident because it had failed to:
– Ensure the floor was free of wet and slippery substances
– Regularly inspect and clean the floor
– Provide sufficient fixed workbenches to ensure no preparation work was undertaken using a wheeled trolley
– Supply sufficient supervision for a first-year apprentice
And the big one – the employer had failed to identify all the hazards and risk of injury which ultimately led to the apprentice’s injury.
In summing up his decision, the Judge said “There was a piece of sausage mince on the floor for three and a half hours which had not been removed. It should have been removed! There was … a common sense obligation on the part of the employer to take proper steps to clean slippery things off the floor.”
The butcher was required to pay the apprentice over $578,000 in damages.
Have you had a Work Health and Safety (WHS) Health Check?
The End2End team can help you with all of your people management and recruiting problems – including workplace safety. Our WHS Health Check is designed to help you:
– Identify potential safety risks
– Provide you with solutions to help you minimise any risks
– Assist with the delivery of health and safety compliance requirements
For more information on the End2End WHS Health Check, call us on 02 8977 4002.