The Royal Australian Mint has been charged with breaching the federal Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act), after a three-tonne coin press almost fell on a worker in Canberra. The incident occurred in the basement of the Mint on 3 May 2019, when a contractor was moving the coin press with a forklift. The press became unbalanced and fell, narrowly missing a worker standing nearby.
Following an investigation by regulator Comcare, the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions has filed three charges in the ACT Magistrates Court against the Mint. The WHS Act charges include: two Category 2 offences (with a maximum penalty of $1.5 million each) alleging the Mint failed to provide a safe system of work and a safe working environment and one Category 3 offence (with a maximum penalty of $500,000) that alleges the Mint failed to provide the contractor with an adequate Safe Work Method Statement for the transportation of the coin press.
The matter will be addressed in the ACT Magistrates Court on 24 June 2021.
Source: NSCA Foundation
