A Laverton North business has been fined $84,000 after a workplace explosion and fire in 2015 that resulted in an employee spending two weeks in The Alfred burns unit.
Pacific Metal Group pleaded guilty to failing to provide a safe working environment and other charges in relation to the incident, which took place at the metal recycling business on February 11, 2015.
Sunshine Magistrates Court heard that on the day of the incident, welder Lakina Taunsila, who had been in the role for two weeks, was performing maintenance and repair work in close proximity to unsealed and sealed 20-litre drums of highly flammable paint and thinners.
Mr Taunsila’s welding sparked a fire and explosion in a nearby unsealed drum containing thinners, resulting in Mr Taunsila sustaining serious burns.
He spent two weeks in The Alfred burns unit and had to undergo skin grafting surgery. He did not return to work at the Pacific Metal Group.
Magistrate Bernard Fitzgerald ordered Pacific Metals to pay $84,000 in fines and nearly $4000 in court costs.
WorkSafe health and safety executive director Marnie Williams said a WorkSafe investigation discovered that several classes of dangerous goods had been improperly stored at the Laverton North business, exposing employees to serious safety risks.
