Cement Australia fined AUD100,000 after worker's death

Cement Australia has been found guilty of failing to comply with Australian Standard Safety of Machinery requirements following a worker's death and has been fined AUD100,000 (US$90,080).

A conveyor system at Cement Australia's Kandos works was found to be insufficiently guarded when an employee was pinned between two electronic rams. The incident, which took place in 2009, resulted in the death of Mr Colin Fuller who was working unsupervised on a broken sheer pin. A later investigation revealed a hammer and a large piece of cement had been found near Mr Fuller and that he had probably been trying to free a blockage in the conveyor equipment when the accident happened.