$340K Safety Undertaking After Conveyor Injury: What You Need to Know

A worker’s hand was crushed in a conveyor. The machine wasn’t isolated. There were no engineering controls to prevent access to moving parts. Now the employer is facing a $340,000 enforceable undertaking.

MFCT Pty Ltd, trading as Mildura Fruit Company, agreed to the penalty after a serious workplace injury in July 2023. The matter was heard on 27 October 2025 in the Mildura Magistrates’ Court.

This isn’t just another compliance case. It’s a warning shot for every business running conveyors, forklifts, or mobile plant. If you work in food, logistics, or cold chain, this is the kind of incident that could happen in your own shed.

Let’s break down what happened, what MFCT now has to do, and what this means for your operation.

What Went Wrong

In July 2023, a worker was cleaning a conveyor system when their hand was caught in the moving parts. The injuries were severe. WorkSafe Victoria investigated and alleged that:

• The conveyor lacked proper guarding to prevent access to moving components

• Lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures were not followed during cleaning

• Energy isolation processes were either missing or not applied in practice

These failures are basic. This wasn’t a case of unusual risk or cutting-edge technology. It was a simple task made dangerous because the fundamentals weren’t in place.

What Happened Next

Rather than pursue full prosecution, WorkSafe accepted an enforceable undertaking from the company. This means the company avoids a conviction if it meets specific obligations within a defined timeframe.

But the deal comes with serious conditions. If the company fails to deliver, WorkSafe can reinstate charges.

MFCT has committed to spending approximately $340,000 on safety improvements and wider community benefits. These include:

• Installing blue halo lights on forklifts to improve pedestrian visibility

• Trialling LIDAR-based pedestrian detection systems

• Donating to safety-focused industry initiatives

• Contributing to a mobile skin cancer screening vehicle to support rural workers

This is not just about fixing one conveyor. It’s about investing in safer systems and lifting the bar for everyone.

What This Means for Your Operation

If you operate conveyors, forklifts, or other mobile equipment, this is a reminder to review your controls. Especially if you operate in the food processing or logistics industry, the risks of machine contact and vehicle interaction are already high.

Expect more enforcement in the following areas:

• Physical guarding of moving plant

• Cleaning and maintenance procedures, especially where machinery is not fully isolated

• Forklift and pedestrian segregation

• Gaps between written procedures and what actually happens in the field

The regulators are not just chasing paperwork. They want to see working controls that protect people in real time.

Four Steps You Can Take Right Now

Don’t wait for a visit from the inspector. Here are four actions you can take this week to tighten up your systems and reduce your exposure.

1. Lock Out Tag Out Every Time You Clean

The injury at MFCT happened during cleaning. That is not a coincidence. Cleaning often involves workers in awkward positions, close to plant, with pressure to move quickly.

If your site allows cleaning of powered equipment, stop now.

• Make LOTO mandatory for cleaning and maintenance

• Confirm all isolation points and ensure they are labelled and documented

• Provide LOTO kits with individual locks and tags

• Train every person who performs cleaning, not just maintenance staff

Walk the process yourself. If a cleaner can spray down or wipe machinery while it is still energised, your system is not compliant.

2. Audit Your Guards and Barriers

Please don’t assume that because a guard exists, it works. Many injuries happen with guards that are broken, bypassed, or simply too easy to remove.

Start with conveyors, rollers, and belt systems. Pay attention to:

• Nip points

• Transfer points

• Adjustable height conveyors where hands are used to guide the product

Use fixed guards wherever possible. Interlocked or movable guards should only be used when no other option is available. If your guarding was modified on-site or designed in-house, check it against Australian Standards.

Take photos and document your findings. Track which guards are compliant and which need replacement or redesign.

3. Forklift and Pedestrian Interaction: Separate, Don’t Just Warn

MFCT is now installing blue lights and trialling LIDAR systems. These tools are helpful, but they are not a substitute for effective traffic control measures.

Start with physical separation.

• Use barriers to create dedicated pedestrian walkways

• Install gates and speed controls at intersections

• Eliminate blind spots with mirrors or sensors, but make them a backup, not the first line of defence

• Train forklift drivers and pedestrians on shared zone protocols

Remember, a light on a forklift might help, but it won’t stop someone from stepping out behind a pallet stack.

4. Check That Your Procedures Match Reality

Paperwork doesn’t protect people. What matters is what actually happens on the floor. Take your SOPs for conveyor cleaning or forklift movement. Watch the task being done. Is it being followed, or is there a workaround that no one talks about?

• Run supervision audits during cleaning shifts

• Interview workers to find where steps are skipped

• Update SOPs to reflect reality, not fantasy

• Use toolbox talks and safety briefings to reinforce expectations

If your people are improvising around the rules, your procedures are broken—even if they look perfect on paper.

The Bigger Picture

The MFCT incident didn’t involve rare equipment or exotic risks. It happened because ordinary tasks were not adequately controlled. And the result is life-changing for the worker involved.

In practical terms, the $340,000 undertaking could have been avoided with:

• One proper guard

• One verified lockout

• One effective supervisor check

That’s the real lesson here. It’s not about big tech or shiny policies. It’s about getting the basics right, every single time.

Don’t Wait for a Visit from WorkSafe

WorkSafe has made it clear. They are watching for failures in guarding, isolation, and forklift safety. And they are prepared to act.

You can avoid the same fate by taking these four steps:

1. Mandate LOTO during cleaning

2. Review and fix guarding, especially at nip points

3. Separate forklifts and pedestrians with physical controls

4. Match your procedures to what’s really happening on site

Your safest worker is the one who doesn’t get near a moving conveyor or a reversing forklift.

Stay safe!