Greyhound Racing SA Limited fined $255,000 after handler struck by 28kg mechanical lure during dog race

A court has heard details of the shocking injuries the man suffered after he was struck by the high-speed mechanical device.

A dog handler who was seriously injured after being struck by a mechanical lure at 70km/h has landed Greyhound SA Racing a whopping fine.

Greyhound Racing SA Limited, the controlling body for greyhound racing in South Australia, was fined $255,000 in the South Australian Employment Tribunal earlier this month.

The incident occurred in September 2022 at the conclusion of a 342m trial dog race

at Greyhound Racing SA’s Angle Park track.

At the time of the incident the workplace was not open to members of the public but

was being used by dog trainers and handlers to conduct trials.

Prior to the conclusion of a trial dog race, a handler and two other people followed a

commonly used shortcut across the track to the catching pen to collect their dogs.

Greyhounds chasing a mechanical lure. Picture: Jay Town

The handler was standing on the racetrack near the catching pen when he was

struck by the 28kg mechanical lure as it passed at 70km/h.

“(The handler) immediately and forcefully spun around and flung to the ground,” the tribunal said.

The injured handler was taken to hospital by ambulance where he underwent two

surgeries to repair three fractures to his right leg.

He also suffered two fractures to his left hand, the loss of one tooth and a fracture to another tooth and a laceration to the mouth.

Following a SafeWork SA prosecution, Greyhound SA pleaded guilty to failing in its duty to ensure the health and safety of other persons was not put at risk during the conduct of trials.

The court heard Greyhound Racing SA was aware of the risks associated with persons entering the racetrack during the conduct of trials.

Nonetheless, both employees of Greyhound Racing SA and other participants regularly used the shortcut onto the track without being challenged.

The court heard since the incident, Greyhound Racing SA has implemented design changes to

physical barriers, access gates and the mechanical lure system.

In sentencing, Deputy President Magistrate Stephen Lieschke convicted and fined Greyhound Racing SA $255,000.

He also ordered they pay $40,000 in compensation to the injured handler, who said he was happy with the outcome.

“I hope that is serves to improve safety generally and to prevent such an accident happening to anyone else,” he said.

SafeWork SA Executive Director Glenn Farrell said taking short cuts can, and in this case has, caused catastrophic harm.

“Too often we are seeing substantial safety improvements made only after someone

has been seriously injured or killed in what would have otherwise been a preventable

incident,” he said.