Safety firm fined $20K over crushed foot

Midland-based safety barrier company Yarnell has been fined $20,000, after an employee suffered serious crush injuries to their lower leg and foot.

Yarnell pleaded guilty in the Perth Magistrates court to failing to provide a safe working environment and causing harm to an employee.

The incident occurred at the Ravensthorpe nickel mine in 2007, when a 2.8 tonne pile driving machine crushed a worker's foot while the machine was being repositioned.

An investigation by the resources safety division of the Department of Mines and Petroleum found the mining company and the contract company did not adequately assess the risk of employees being struck by the track of the machine.

Department of Mines safety director Simon Ridge said the job safety analysis had been completed by employees with no input from management.

"Management signed off on the job safety analysis and failed to ensure that this significant hazard was adequately controlled," he said.

"An inadequate risk assessment was carried out prior to the work and the safe work procedures were not relevant to the machine being used."

Mr Ridge said the case was an example of the risk associated with failing to implement safe work practices.

"Interaction between plant and people is one of the most significant hazards in the mining industry and adequate controls must be implemented by mining companies and contractors to reduce the risk of serious injury," he said.

"This case should serve as a reminder to employers' of their obligation to identify hazards and have safe systems of work in place."