The Melbourne County Court has convicted Silcar under section 21 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004.

“This combined two offences of failing to provide and maintain safe plant and systems of work and failing to provide information, instruction and training to employees,” WorkSafe said.

The fitter, 42-year-old Richard Gauci, was carrying out maintenance work on the head pulley of a conveyor used to transport overburden.

While he was winching a 700kg steel beam into the right position, cables on two winches failed and the beam fell in his direction.

The WorkSafe investigation found the hand winches and lifting rope on the fixed belt clamp were in poor condition.

Worse, Silcar did not have any records to prove the belt clamps and ropes were inspected or maintained.

WorkSafe also found Silcar failed to put safe systems in place for working with fixed belt clamps.

The accident occurred because Silcar failed to consider all risks, WorkSafe acting hazard management director Rod Gunn said.

“As a maintenance contractor, carrying out high-risk work assessments should be an area of expertise,” he said.

“This prosecution is a reminder that employers need to be vigilant about making sure plant and equipment is inspected, maintained, and in a condition suitable for use, and that nothing slips through the cracks.”

The Yallourn mine is estimated to supply about 22% of Victoria’s electricity needs.