Fine ‘Bittersweet’ as Worker Suffers

A $240,000 fine for company whose practices led to the serious injury of two workers has been labelled ‘bittersweet’ by Australian Workers Union Secretary Bill Shorten.

"To be frank, the company's former employees believe the penalty imposed falls short of the mark for the wilful negligence they were witness to," Shorten said.

Melbourne scrap metal recycler Non-Ferral was charged for two incidents, one in June 2004, in which a worker was showered with molten metal after a furnace exploded, leaving burns to 30 per cent of his body.

Just five months later, a worker suffered from burns to his face and neck.

Both incidents involved water reacting violently with the molten metals.

"They worked in an environment where it was a matter of routine for the company to take short-cuts which increased the likelihood of them or their colleagues being injured," Shorten said.

"They do feel vindicated by Magistrate Ross Betts' statements that Non-Ferral was guilty of criminal behaviour and had shown 'little regard for the safety of its employees'.

"But there is not any happiness in being proved right, when one of their former colleagues is still suffering."

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Last modified: Wednesday, 21-Dec-2005 22:09:07 EST