On 24 July 2025, a meat manufacturing and distribution company was sentenced in the Holland Park Magistrates Court for breaching section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld) (‘the Act’) , having failed to comply with its primary health and safety duty pursuant to section 19(1) of the Act.

The defendant company conducted a business in the manufacture and distribution of meat products. It had workers that operated plant for this purpose including a ‘Biltong Slicer’. This slicer operated through having meat product fed into it via conveyor belt and then sliced into smaller pieces by spinning blade.  It had two guards, one that extended over the conveyor belt at the front of the plant and another which was over the left side near the blade. The slicer had an interlock function where it would stop after the guarding on either the front or side was opened. However, the spinning blade of the slicer would take between 6-10 seconds to slow down to stop moving when this occurred.

On 13 December 2022 a worker was operating the slicer to cut some dried meat. When that task was finished the worker went to clean the slicer by opening the front guard and placing her hand in to wipe. The blade was still moving and the workers hand contacted the blade causing a laceration and fracture to her thumb, partial amputation of her index finger and complete amputation of her middle and ring fingers. The defendant company had not completed a risk assessment for the slicer or implemented a written procedure in relation to its operation. Post incident such a procedure was implemented, and the slicer was modified to ensure the blade ceased moving before guarding could be opened.

In sentencing, Magistrate Cornack accepted that the task of operating the slicer was clearly hazardous by its nature and posed an obvious risk to health and safety of workers. Her Honour accepted that because of the defendant’s failing the worker had a serious injury which has had a significant and long-lasting impact.

Magistrate Cornack indicated a deterrent penalty was required but that it also had to reflect all other circumstances of the offending, including that safety was not completely neglected as training had been provided to the worker. It was accepted that the company was of good character and unlikely to reoffend.

A $60,000 fine was imposed with no conviction recorded.

OWHSP contact: enquiries@owhsp.qld.gov.au