Salt manufacturing worker suffers lifetime injuries

After a horrifying occurrence at the salt plant where her right arm was dragged into a roller, a young woman was left with lifelong damage.

On April 17, 2020, Courtney Herbert’s arm became stuck in the machinery at the Pacific Salt mill in Whyalla, South Australia. She was left in excruciating pain.

When the then-18-year-old’s clothing got hooked, it dragged her arm into the roller as she was removing extra salt from a conveyor belt.

Court records described the desperate steps Ms. Herbert’s coworkers took, including one grabbing a wrench that was close by to loosen the roller’s tension so she could pull her arm out.

In an effort to prevent the conveyer belt from crushing her arm, another worker frantically turned off the machine.

Ms. Herbert had tendons damaged after being transported to the hospital for surgery.

Following the event, Pacific Salt, the company responsible for creating the renowned Olsson’s Salt, was brought before the South Australian Employment Tribunal and entered a guilty plea for violating the Work Health and Safety Act.

The ruling, which determined that Pacific Salt had failed to establish a safe system of work and that the event could have been averted, was published on July 29.

Deputy President Magistrate Cole made note of the absence of an emergency stop on the conveyor and the improper guarding of the devices’ return rollers.

Ms. Herbert said in her victim impact statement, which was delivered in court by her attorney, that she continued to experience stress, anguish, and discomfort as a result of the occurrence.

When she returned to work after around two months, the statement stated, “She states that she felt unsupported and she terminated her employment with the defendant shortly thereafter.”

“Ms. Herbert is still dealing with the incident’s emotional ramifications, including a dread of conveyors.”

More than two years later, according to Ms. Herbert, her arm was still bothering her.

She admitted to The Advertiser that her arm was still difficult to use because of the large scar and tendon damage present.

Since then, Pacific Salt has invested $20,000 in the installation of guards and a conveyor emergency stop control equipment.

Additionally, it has invested over $300,000 on guarding upgrades and new guard installation for its machinery and facility.

Magistrate Cole found the occurrence to be a “severe regulatory infringement,” sentenced the corporation to a conviction, and assessed a $75,000 punishment.