A South Australian manufacturer has received a record $840,000 fine after an apprentice was fatally crushed by a falling three-tonne tank. 

The fine handed down by the South Australian Employment Court is the highest under the state’s Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws.

The incident occurred in 2021 at JMA Engineering Pty Ltd’s Berri site, where a gantry crane cable failed, causing the tank to fall on a worker beneath. 

The SafeWork SA investigation found systemic safety failures, including poor maintenance and non-compliance with codes of practice. 

Despite earlier damage and repairs to the crane’s cable, JMA Engineering declined an external servicing offer two months before the incident.

The court heard workers regularly bypassed a safer access route involving a ramp and trapdoor, opting instead to move beneath suspended tanks. 

This unsafe practice was found to have become the accepted system of work at the company. 

JMA Engineering pleaded guilty to a Category 1 offence under the WHS Act, acknowledging reckless conduct that endangered lives. 

Alongside the $840,000 fine, the court mandated safety training for all directors and key staff. 

A production manager was also fined $12,000 for failing to address known safety risks, including repeated issues with the crane.

SafeWork SA Executive Director Glenn Farrell says the penalty is a milestone under South Australian WHS law, and should “send a strong message” about the consequences of workplace safety neglect.

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