Poultry farm charged after conveyor belt death

The 34-year-old man was working with the conveyor belt guard removed when he became entangled in the rotating components of the tail pulley.

Lemitech Pty Ltd faces three charges under section 26(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act for failing to ensure that the workplace was safe and without risks to health.

WorkSafe alleges the company failed to reduce the risk of serious injury or death by not installing a fixed guard with a viewing window on the tail pulley, in-running nip guards over the roller of the tail pulley, or a maintenance jog function to slow the conveyor when the existing guard was removed.

It is also alleged that the company failed to install a fixed guard over an in-running nip point near the tail pulley, or implement a lockout-tag out procedure to prevent the conveyor from operating during maintenance works.

The matter is listed for a filing hearing at the Geelong Magistrate’s Court on 11 February 2025.