Dyson has been fined over A$2 million after a milling machine fell on a factory worker.
A worker at the company’s factory in Wiltshire, in South West England, had been moving a 1.5 tonne milling machine with a co-worker in August 2019.
They lifted it with a five-tonne jack to replace wheels with wooden blocks when it struck the man’s head and chest.
Health and Safety Executive inspector, James Hole, said the incident “could have been fatal”, pointing out the man escaped being crushed “only because the machine landed on two toolboxes and the handle of another machine.”
It found Dyson had not provided “suitable and sufficient information, instruction and training” to its staff.
“Those in control of work have a duty to assess the risks, devise safe methods of working and to provide the necessary information, instruction and training to their workforce,” said Hole.
“Had a suitable safe system of work been in place this incident and the related injuries could have been prevented.”
Dyson plead guilty to breaching health and safety laws.
“As an engineering company, we use complex and often heavy equipment and take care to do so safely,” Dyson said in a statement.
“We deeply regret that this happened and we accept the court’s decision today.”
Dyson pointed out its otherwise “excellent safety record” – this is the company’s first fine related to workplace health and safety.
