Cherry farmer to spend six-figure sum after worker’s hand injury

A Victorian fruit grower will spend an estimated $220,000 to improve health and safety after a worker’s hand was caught and degloved in a conveyor belt.

Koala Cherries Yarck orchard. The fruit grower has entered into an Enforceable Undertaking while facing two workplace safety charges. Picture: File (Zoe Phillips).

A Goulburn Valley fruit grower will be forced to spend an estimated $220,000 to improve health and safety outcomes after a worker’s hand was caught and degloved in a conveyor belt.

Earlier this month in the Mansfield Magistrates’ Court, Koala Cherries Pty Ltd entered into an enforceable undertaking while facing two charges of failing to provide a safe plant; one charge of failing to provide information, instruction and training to employees; and one charge of failing to maintain a safe system of work.

WorkSafe may reinstate the charges if the undertaking is contravened or withdrawn.

The court heard that in December 2021, a labour hire worker was sorting cherries during her first shift at the company’s packing facility in Yarck, when she noticed a box stuck on a conveyor belt adjacent to her own.

While both machines were still running, the worker reached over to dislodge the box and her hand was caught in the pinch point of the neighbouring conveyor, where the belt and rollers met.

The court was told colleagues quickly pulled an overhead emergency stop cable, but the conveyors continued to operate until a worker ran to an isolator switch and successfully terminated power to both machines.

The worker was taken to hospital and treated for a degloving injury.

The estimated $220,000 undertaking requires Koala Cherries to:

PROVIDE significant safety upgrades to the workplace and its practices.

PRODUCE visual safety aids and videos on the key risks at the workplace.

COLLABORATE with the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) and two other industry organisations to create, publish and distribute standard operating procedures and template competency tests for; the operation of tractors, skid steer loaders, ATVs and RTVs, manual handling, power assisted pruning, spray pumps, chemical spraying, storage and handling and

the use of boom lifts.

COLLABORATE with the VFF to host two free training events for industry operators that address topics including incident reporting and the most common risks associated with plant, equipment and machinery on farms.

MAKE a donation of $15,000 to assist the VFF in continuing to deliver its strategic objectives.

“Requiring a worker to operate a conveyor belt on their first day, without appropriate training or adequate guarding on the machines, is completely irresponsible,” WorkSafe Executive Director of Health and Safety Sam Jenkin said.

“It is encouraging to see this company committing to delivering upgrades and resources that will help improve safety at their workplace and across the industry at large.”

Originally published as Cherry farmer to spend six-figure sum after worker’s hand injury