Peter and Ashley Schmidt fined a total of $43,000 after worker loses three fingers in unguarded farm equipment

A well-known father and son have been fined after a young worker lost three fingers in unguarded farm equipment at a Coonalpyn piggery.

A father and son have been fined after a young worker lost three fingers in a horrific incident at a Coonalpyn piggery.

Peter and Ashley Schmidt were sentenced in the South Australian Employment Court last week, after pleading guilty to breaching a Work Health and Safety Act.

The incident took place at the Mount Seven Piggery, operated in partnership by Peter and Ashley Schmidt, on September 15, 2022.

The piggery employee, who was aged 24 at the time, was performing a task that involved loading pig feed into a tractor mill, driving it to a silo and transferring the feed from the tractor mill to the silo with the use of an auger.

An auger was used to transfer pig feed into a silo. Picture: Generic

The auger had a rotating part called a flight, which transfers the feed from the basin, upwards into the silo.

The lower section of the auger, which sat in the basin, was not guarded.

After transferring the feed to the silo, the worker, who was also a volunteer ambulance officer, was walking around the auger to reach the controls when she tripped and fell, extending her hands to break her fall.

Her right hand landed on the rotating auger flight, severely lacerating her thumb and severing the middle three fingers.

“While waiting for help she knew to grip her right wrist tightly with her left hand to minimise the bleeding,” Deputy President Magistrate Katherine Eaton said.

“Her fortitude and presence of mind in the face of such an injury is remarkable.

“Unfortunately, her fingers could not be reattached, and her right hand now and forever has only her thumb and little finger.”

A SafeWork SA investigation found that the auger had a guard fitted when it was purchased in 2019 and a risk assessment conducted by the Schmidts identified guarding as a control measure to reduce risk of harm.

A Safe Use of Plant, Guards and Augers policy at the piggery was also in place, requiring guards to be fitted to any machinery where moving parts were a hazard.

However, contrary to its own policy, the guard was removed and was not in place when the worker was trained to use the auger, or on the day of the incident.

The court heard the Schmidts actively supported the injured worker through her treatment and recovery, and she was able to return to full time work in April 2023.

The Schmidts, who have both been involved in the Coonalpyn community in sporting and volunteer roles, were each fined $21,600 and had convictions recorded.

SafeWork SA Executive Director Glenn Farrell said the incident could have been easily avoided if the company had ensured the auger was properly guarded and they continue to see far too many incidents like this resulting in serious injury or death.

“This business has had a serious wake-up call from this incident and has been graphically reminded of the importance of committing themselves fully to their work, health and safety responsibilities,” he said.

“It should not take an avoidable life-changing injury to a worker to trigger an employer’s responsibilities.”