BWC Equipment fined $150k for Crestmead exploding tyre accident

A construction company has been fined $150,000 after a tyre exploded on site in Logan, badly injuring a worker.

Logan construction company BWC Equipment has been fined for a workplace incident.

A Brisbane construction company has been fined $150,000 after a tyre exploded on site in Logan, badly injuring a worker.

Beenleigh Magistrates Court heard on April 12 that a worker from BWC Equipment was involved in a serious work accident on June 16 in 2022 in Crestmead.

The court heard the worker was inflating a Bridgestone trailer tyre and walked away.

When he returned some time later the tyre exploded.

He broke his jaw, suffered a fractured jawline, concussion and bleeding to the brain.

Managing director Gavin Lindsay Turner was not present in court but accepted responsibility on behalf of BWC Equipment for the accident.

He said he was willing for the company to pay a fine.

Magistrate Eoin Mac Giolla Ri said it was a serious offence and there were dangerous consequences.

“The victim worker underwent extensive medical treatment, it must have been extremely harrowing for him and his family,” he said.

“The fault on the part of the employer (BWC Equipment) were two fold.

“Firstly, there was no tyre cage. It had become routine for workers not to use a tyre cage, which was unsafe.”

The court heard there was no extension available to the tyre pump and it could not be activated and deactivated remotely.

The likeliness of the tyre exploding was bound to increase as more pressure was put into it, the court heard.

BWC Equipment pleaded guilty to one count of failure to comply with health and safety duties - category two.

Magistrate Mac Giolla Ri said he noted the early plea of guilty and successful, safety track record of the company.

“I take into account the plea of guilty and genuine remorse displayed,” he said.

BWC Equipment was fined $150,000 and ordered to pay court costs of $1601.

No conviction was recorded.