Souvlaki GR Fined $75,000 After Worker's Hair Gets Caught in Rotisserie Machine

A now-closed Souvlaki GR branch in Plenty, Melbourne, has been fined $75,000 and ordered to pay $5,682 in legal costs after a horrific workplace incident left a young employee injured. The Heidelberg Magistrates' Court handed down the sentence last Tuesday, convicting the Greek takeaway restaurant of failing to provide a safe work environment, adequate training, and necessary information to its employees.

The conviction stems from a 2022 incident where a 22-year-old worker's ponytail became entangled in a rotisserie machine while she reached for a takeaway container stored on a high shelf above it. Her hair became caught in the turning cog at the top of the machine. The worker's screams alerted a colleague who quickly hit the emergency stop button. However, the ordeal didn't end there. A hairdresser from a nearby salon had to be called in to cut the young woman free from the machine.

The worker was taken to the hospital with swelling to her head and suffered significant hair loss. The incident forced her to take two weeks off work.

A subsequent investigation by WorkSafe Victoria revealed a shocking lack of safety procedures and training at the restaurant. The victim and her colleague were only made aware of workplace safety policies and their location during a training session held after the incident occurred.

WorkSafe slammed the business, stating that basic safety measures like requiring hairnets or secured hairstyles for employees working near machinery and avoiding storage above the rotisserie machine could have prevented the incident.

WorkSafe Executive Director of Health and Safety, Sam Jenkin, emphasized the importance of workplace safety, particularly within the hospitality industry which employs many young and inexperienced workers. He stressed that these workers deserve proper training, instruction, and supervision to ensure their safety.

"Simple measures such as storing items away from danger areas and ensuring workers secured hair appropriately could have prevented a traumatic physical injury," Mr. Jenkin said.

This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of workplace safety and the responsibility employers have to provide a safe environment for their employees.