Great Aussie Caravans fined $60k over safety and reporting breaches after workplace air compressor incident
A workplace prank involving compressed air that punctured a factory worker’s intestines has led to a Melbourne caravan manufacturer being hit with a hefty fine in court.
JCP Group Pty Ltd, trading as Great Aussie Caravans, operated a caravan manufacturing facility in Campbellfield; where the injured worker was working in the electrical department and his co-worker was working in woodworking and making trailers containing power tools.
Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court was told a SYEA 30P air compressor was in use at the factory on May 9, 2023, when the colleague used the tool to blow dust near others.
While the injured worker continued his duty, he felt the mouth of the compressor placed on the outside of his trousers near his anus and then felt a brief burst of high-pressure air entering his body.
He immediately felt severe pain, went to the bathroom and realized he was bleeding.
She reported the incident to her colleagues, including a supervisor and the office manager, and an ambulance was called.
Due to delays, he was taken by his superior to Northern Hospital, where he was admitted for treatment and later underwent surgery for a perforated bowel. More surgery and ongoing care was expected.
The company pleaded guilty to charges of failing to provide adequate information, instruction and training about the dangers of improper use of compressed air, including the risk of serious internal injury, and failing to promptly notify the Victoria WorkCover Authority of a notifiable incident.
The court accepted the company’s guilty plea and imposed a $50,000 fine on the primary security charge and a $10,000 fine for reporting the violation; but no convictions were recorded.
He was also ordered to pay $5042 in costs.
While imposing the penalty, the court stated that the company accepted responsibility, but stated that the incident involved an inappropriate workplace joke rather than a deliberate act of the employer.
However, the consequences for the worker, including serious physical injury and psychological impact, were found to be severe and their ongoing concerns about stigma affecting their future employment were acknowledged.
While the court accepted that there was an element of unpredictability in the colleague’s actions, it emphasized that adequate education and training was vital.
General deterrence and worker safety were identified as key considerations, with sentencing aimed at strengthening compliance with workplace health and safety laws.
The court also noted that a registered conviction could have created additional difficulties, taking into account the otherwise good character of the company and its potential impact on its ability to employ workers, including overseas staff.
The court stated that if there had been no confession of crime, a fine of $200,000 would have been imposed upon conviction.
Great Aussie Caravans is a well-known Australian-owned luxury caravan manufacturer that has developed its product range domestically, focusing on designs suitable for Australian touring conditions and off-road travel.
Numerous deaths have been reported at workplaces abroad due to similar compressed air “pranks.”
Last year in Türkiye, 15-year-old apprentice Muhammed Kendirci died days after allegedly using excessive force and being subjected to a similar action at a woodworking center in Şanlıurfa.
In another case in 2023, 16-year-old Motilal Sahu died of internal injuries after a co-worker inserted a compressed air hose into his rectum at a factory in India.
In 2017, 17-year-old Brazilian car wash worker Wesner Moreira da Silva died when his colleagues used a high-pressure air hose on him, and two men were later convicted and imprisoned for his death.
