Council hit with big bill after industrial accident
THE council has been handed a bill for more than $200,000 as the result of an industrial accident in which a contractor lost a leg.
The costly ruling was handed down by the Office of Industrial Relations and was the result of an extensive investigation by Workplace Health and Safety.
The investigation stemmed from an incident at the council's Kingaroy Waste Disposal Facility in May 2013 when a front end loader allegedly reversed into a contractor's truck.
The contractor, who was not an employee of the council, suffered multiple fractures and later had to have a leg amputated.
Under the Enforceable Undertaking, the council will be forced to implement upgrades across its sites and improve safety procedures to prevent similar accidents at its sites.
The total bill for the undertakings will add up to $224,624.
Council CEO Gary Wall said it was an incident the council "deeply regrets" and it was working on implementing the changes.
"The implementation of the activities has commenced and will continue over the next three years as approved by the regulator," he said.
"A formal statement of regret will be issued state-wide so that other local governments can take note and implement preventive actions."
The council said it already budgeted the costs of implementing the ruling.
A full copy of the ruling can be found at www.worksafe.qld.gov.au.
