A government department in Western Australia has been fined a record $900,000 after an experienced handler was savagely attacked by a dog.
The incident happened at Hakea Prison in December 2018 when a drug detection officer was trying to move one of two new dogs from its kennel.
The handler had his foot against the bottom of the kennel door, which was opened about 15cm wide, and had a choker collar ready for the dog to put its head through.
But the dog suddenly latched onto the handxjmtzywler’s right forearm with its mouth and dragged him into the kennel.
It then stood on its back legs and ignored his “no” command, which was repeated up to 15 times.
The dog then latched onto the officer’s left wrist until he managed to get out of the kennel and lock the door.
The handler suffered a fractured left arm and cuts to both arms, which required more than 120 stitches.
His left arm needed specialist treatment and required screws and wires to be inserted, while his ongoing treatment included four surgeries.
The Department of Justice pleaded guilty to failing to provide and maintain a safe work environment and, by that failure, causing serious harm to an employee.
This week, the department was fined $900,000 in the Armadale Magistrates Court and was ordered to pay $6404 in costs.
It is the highest penalty ever imposed for a breach of workplace safety and healthy laws in WA.
It is also the third time the Department of Justice was convicted of breaching the laws.
WorkSafe WA commissioner Darren Kavanagh said the department had failed to assess the risks involved in handling the type of dog.
“This was an aggressive animal that was intended to be trained in tactical support, use of force and riot control, and the department did not ensure the safety of employees required to work with these dogs,” Mr Kavanagh said.
“This dog and another had been transported to WA from Victoria, but no departmental representative had assessed them in person prior to purchasing them and, even worse, kennel modifications that the department knew were required did not occur before the dogs arrived.”
Mr Kavanagh said the victim, who had been a handler for 30 years, had observed two new dogs fighting with each other, pacing inside their cages and disobeying commands.
He also noted the officer had reported his concerns to the two co-ordinators of the unit before the incident.
