Swickers Bacon Factory charged with failing to comply with health and safety duty

One of the South Burnett region’s largest employers is before the courts for breaching workplace health and safety legislation, with the company facing allegations that workers were exposed to the risk of serious chemical burns.

One of the South Burnett region’s largest employers has indicated it intends to plead guilty to breaching workplace health and safety legislation, with the company facing allegations workers were exposed to the risk of serious chemical burns.

Swickers Bacon Factory is facing one count of failing to comply with health and safety duty (Category 2).

“The particulars in the filed complaint and summons allege that (Swickers), in 2021, failed to manage the risk posed to workers by the use of an acidic cleaning product at its abattoir,” a spokesperson from the Office of the Work Health and Safety Prosecutor said.

“It is alleged that workers were exposed to a risk of sustaining serious chemical burns.”

The company indicated during Thursday’s sitting of Kingaroy Magistrates Court that it would be entering a plea of guilty.

The matter was adjourned to November 10 for sentencing.

Swickers Bacon Factory is one of the largest employers in the South Burnett region and hires more than 800 people.

Originally published as Swickers Bacon Factory charged with failing to comply with health and safety duty