Australian company fined €45k after Tipperary woman’s horrific accident

A company in Australia has been fined over €45,000 after a woman from Tipperary had her scalp "ripped" from her head.

Annie Dunne was cleaning the underside of a conveyor belt in a fruit packing company in north Victoria in 2015 when her hair became tangled. The 22-year-old backpacker lost her scalp and ear in the accident. Local news source, Shepparton News, reports that the company, Kalafatis Packing, was fined $72,000 (€46,820). The court's decision is currently under review by Australian government body, WorkSafe. They said:

‘‘Every worker has the right to expect that their employer does everything possible to protect their health and safety. ‘‘It was appalling that workers were expected to clean machinery while it was still in operation. The victim was left with horrific, long-lasting injuries because safe systems of work were not in place.’’

Following the accident, Dunne was airlifted to a hospital in Melbourne to receive treatment. Her family were also flown to Australia. Kalafatis Packing's managing director, Jimmy Kalafatis, said that the company has since invested $200,000 in "infrastructure" including a barrier that covers the conveyor belt. Image via My Cause.