$20,000 fine for Q fever
Karen Matthews
05Sep07
BREAKWATER meat processor Galpac Australia Pty Ltd has been fined $20,000 after four of its employees
contracted Q fever.
Q fever is a disease transmitted by animals to humans and produces severe, flu-like symptoms.
It is believed the workers contracted the illness after handling semi-thawed sheep placentas during processing.
Galpac, which supplies the food and cosmetics industries, pleaded guilty in Geelong Magistrates' Court yesterday to failing to
provide a safe workplace and failing to provide and maintain plant and systems of work.
Worksafe prosecutor, Rob Taylor, said Galpac had been processing frozen sheep placentas since 2003.
``The process involved transforming the material by mincing, drying then grinding,'' he said.
Mr Taylor said that in 2004, Galpac began processing cattle tracheas in a semi-thawed state to improve handling and the
end product.
``Company director Bruce Galloway directed the factory manager, who in turn directed a process worker to conduct research
into the risk of Brucelloisis on the internet,'' he said.
``The dangers of contracting other diseases was not researched.''
Mr Taylor said that in January 2005 Galpac was requested to separate sheep and deer placentas from the accompanying
(frozen) amniotic fluid and started a new process working with semi-thawed placentas.
``The handling of semi-thawed reproductive material was a first and no formal or adequate hazard identification or risk
assessment was undertaken in the lead up to the change,'' he said.
``Employees were not informed there was a risk of contracting Q fever, nor were they vaccinated against it.''
Mr Taylor said that in February 2005, employee Jason Osborne contracted Q fever.
``He suffered headaches, nausea, vomiting, hot/cold flushes and after collapsing twice spent five nights in hospital including
one night in intensive care,'' he said.
``Three other employees, Kandy Hallsworth, Gareth Bradely and Patricia Robertson also contracted Q fever.''
Ross Ray, for Galpac, said the practice of working with semi-thawed placentas was ceased as soon as the Q fever came to
light.
``The company had been naive in not knowing about Q fever and all employees have since been vaccinated,'' Mr Ray said.
He described the company as having no prior convictions and otherwise well-regarded.
Mr Ray submitted that a conviction would virtually render the company inoperable and submitted a low fine without conviction
would be appropriate.
Magistrate Ron Saines said he was satisfied Galpac had not simply ignored the issue of Q fever, but had not known about it
at all.
``This makes the charges far less outrageous than they would otherwise have been,'' he said.
Galpac was without conviction, fined $20,000 and ordered to pay $71,913 costs.