Mt Barker earthmoving business fined after man seriously injured in 2017 front-end loader accident

A Mt Barker earthmoving business and a director of the company have received hefty fines after an employee was seriously injured in a front-end loader accident. Quentin Victor Healy and Robert John Healy, representing earthmoving business Screenwest, appeared in the Albany Magistrate’s Court last Friday after pleading guilty in relation to a workplace accident in 2017. Screenwest was fined $33,000 and will have to pay costs of $3500 after failing to provide a safe work environment. Quentin Healy, the driver of the loader, was fined $11,000 and ordered to pay costs of $5000 after his actions left a man with two badly broken legs. State prosecutor Nick John told the court that on the afternoon of May 9, 2017 in the Stirling Range, Healy was doing contracting work for Screenwest under the business name NJ Healy & Sons. Healy reversed a 3000kg Caterpillar small front-end loader into a confined excavation area, where an employee’s legs were crushed by the machine. “Mr Healy started reversing (into the culvert), he was aware two employees were working in there,” Mr John said. “There were no spotters and there are blind spots when reversing. the only way he could see was by using the reverse camera.” In an interview after the accident, Healy had admitted the screen was “glary” and he was unable to see behind him, Mr John told the court. The loader’s treads rode up the victim’s legs before Healy heard shouting and drove forward. The man’s injuries included a broken tibia in his right leg and a broken femur in his left leg. He was administered first aid at the scene before being flown to Albany Health Campus. Magistrate Raelene Johnston said it was a tragic incident which could have been avoided. “It is apparent it was a small area the equipment was being moved and creates an obvious hazard known to Screenwest and Mr Healy which was admitted to during the investigation,” Ms Johnston said. “The penalty I need to impose needs to reflect the seriousness.”