Maya fine for guard lack

A MORLEY company has been fined $5,000 for failing to adequately guard two items of machinery used at a Northbridge restaurant.

Maya Nominees, trading as Maya Masala Indian Brasserie, was convicted in the pErth Court of Petty Sessions last week of two charges of failing to ensure every dangerous part of their machinery was securely guarded.

WorkSafe inspectors went to the restaurant in June 2003 to follow up on improvement notices previously issued required guards be fitted to a spar dough mixer and a rice flour grinder.

The inspectors found those machines did not have any guards, despite improvement notices being issued on three occasions over the previous nine months.

The dough mixer had exposed rotating mixer blades and other attachments that posed a risk of laceration, amputation or fracture to anyone coming into contact with them.

The flour grinder was positioned next to a walkway between the kitchen and dining areas where staff had to walk very close to it, posing the risk of laceration or crush injuries to anyone coming into contact with the grinding part.

WorkSafe WA commissioner Nina Lyhne said none of Maya’s employees had been injured by the machinery.