Hy-Tec Industries before court on workplace health and safety charge

Gympie quarry operators have found out the next steps in their court case after a man allegedly became trapped between a loader and a refuelling truck.

Hytec quarry at Scotchy Pocket north of Curra.

A workplace health and safety case against operators of a quarry north of Gympie has been briefly mentioned in court after a man was seriously injured after he allegedly became pinned between two vehicles in August 2022.

According to court documents, the complaint was lodged by Workplace Health and Safety prosecutor Simon Nicholson alleging Hy-Tec Industries had an obligation to ensure the risk to workers while at the operator’s mine was at an acceptable level.

The charge of failing to discharge health and safety obligation was mentioned before Maryborough Magistrates Court this week.

According to court documents, the injured man Torin O’Hanlon, who was 21 at the time, and another man were both employees of Australian Crushing Services, a services provider working at the Hy-Tec Concrete and Aggregates quarry in Scotchy Pocket.

Man hurt at Hy-Tec quarry, Scotchy Pocket, August 16, 2022

Mr O’Hanlon was operating a refuelling truck at the time of the incident on August 16, 2022, while the other man was operating a front-end loader.

The other man parked his loader near one of the crushing plants at the mine and Mr O’Hanlon parked his refuelling truck behind the loader, with the rear of the truck positioned at the rear of the loader, according to court documents.

Mr O’Hanlon exited his refuelling truck and stood between the two vehicles.

Another man then entered the loader and reversed, pinning Mr O’Hanlon between the loader and the truck.

Emergency services were called to the Lindley’s Lane worksite about 5km north of Curra at 8am following reports of the incident.

Mr O’Hanlon suffered pelvic and abdominal injuries in the incident and was flown to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.

The matter was adjourned until August 21, 2024.

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