The Perth Magistrates Court has ordered a local bakery owner to pay almost $10,000 in fines and court costs after one of its employees broke his arm while using a dough mixer.

The employee was mixing a batch of dough when his left arm became trapped in a mixer. The attachment of the mixer pulled his arm further into the bowl and, when he tried to free his arm, it was fractured.

He has since had surgery on his arm, spending two days in hospital. WorkSafe WA Commissioner Lex McCulloch said the accident highlighted the importance of guarding moving parts of machinery.

“It is worth reminding workers they too have a responsibility for their own safety and the safety of those around them, but it is up to the employer to provide the safe work environment via safely guarded machinery,” he said, as reported by WA Today.

“Subsequent to this incident, the employer had a mixer guard fitted to the machine that cost a little over $600 to supply and fit. If this had been done earlier, this incident would not have occurred and the employee involved would have been spared a great deal of suffering.

“Guarding of dangerous moving parts of machinery is such a basic and easy precaution to take, and it really is time for employers to take a good hard look at the guarding situation and stop exposing employees to the risk of injury.”