Wanneroo Kart Hire fined over 2011 safety incident

Western Australian go-kart operator Wanneroo Kart Hire and a former director of the business have been fined $30,250 over a 2011 incident where a teenage girl’s hair became entangled in the rear axle of a go kart.

The operator pleaded guiltyto charges in the Joondalup Magistrates Court last week.

The Court heard attendants had provided the 13-year-old with a hair net for hygiene purposes, which she was not wearing at the time of the accident, but did not tell her to tie her hair back.

The girl was driving when she was pulled back over the seat as her hair became caught in the rear axle. Her helmet was pulled against the brakes on the axle and the chin strap cut into her neck, which restricted her breathing and caused her to pass out.

The girl was cut free, allowing her to regain consciousness.

WorkSafe WA Commissioner Lex McCulloch told Perth-based media that it was pure luck the girl did not suffer lasting injuries, and the potential outcomes from that type of accident were horrendous.

McCulloch said the track attendants had failed in their duty of care to ensure the girl’s hair was restrained, stating “simple guarding of the hazardous moving parts of machinery is the easiest way to prevent injuries, and this need not be an expensive exercise.” 

All go-karts at the business have since been fitted with guards between the seats and the ends of the vehicles to prevent loose clothing and hair coming into contact with rear axles.

Image used for illustrative purposes only.

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