Industrial companies fined following serious workplace accidents

Two separate industrial safety incidents have resulted in significant fines for companies in the United Kingdom and Australia.

In Lancashire, UK, Fitzpatrick Fabrications Ltd was fined £48,000 following a workplace accident that caused a welder to lose part of his thumb. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that a 133kg stainless-steel structure slipped during a manual-handling operation on October 24, 2024. Notably, the regulator found that a near-identical incident had occurred at the same factory only days prior, suggesting the accident was preventable.

In Australia, First Quantum Minerals Australia Nickel Pty Ltd was ordered by the Albany Magistrates Court to pay $810,000 in fines and over $11,000 in costs. The penalty stems from a 2023 incident at the Ravensthorpe Nickel Operation where a worker suffered a serious spinal injury. The worker was struck by a heavy component known as a Roman Shield after it was unfastened without being secured. The court found the company failed to provide adequate instructions, warnings, or direct supervision to prevent uncontrolled movement of the equipment.