Abattoir Accused of ‘Blame Shifting’ After Worker Loses Foot in Machinery Incident

Introduction
A Riverina-based abattoir has come under sharp criticism in court after a worker lost his foot in a horrific machinery accident. Although Hilltop Meats has pleaded guilty to workplace safety failures, the company’s decision to reprimand the injured worker and suggest procedural failings on his part has been condemned by prosecutors and raised serious judicial concern.

Details of the Incident
The incident occurred in October 2021, when the worker—who had returned to the job just months earlier—was clearing a blockage in a meat auger conveyor at Hilltop Meats in Young. Another employee inadvertently reactivated the machine, causing the man’s foot to become entangled in the rotating auger screw.

Emergency crews worked for over two hours to free him. The worker, then in his 30s, suffered significant injuries to both legs and later required a foot amputation. He had originally worked at the facility from 2015 to 2018 and returned in July 2021 under new management.

Court Proceedings and Safety Admissions
Hilltop Meats pleaded guilty in March 2025 to multiple breaches of workplace safety law, including:

• Exposing the worker to dangerous moving parts of machinery
• Failing to conduct a proper risk assessment for blockage removal
• Creating a fall risk by requiring workers to stand on the auger above a concrete floor

The court heard that safety guards had been removed from the machinery for several months prior to the incident and that the worker was not retrained in lock-out procedures after his return to the company.

Reprimand Sparks Judicial Concern
Crown prosecutor Matthew Moir accused Hilltop’s legal team of “blame shifting” by highlighting the victim’s failure to follow proper safety steps. He argued that the responsibility lay with the employer to ensure proper training and enforcement of safety policies.

Three months after the incident, the injured worker was called back to the site and issued a written reprimand and warning of possible termination. Judge Wendy Strathdee expressed concern:

“Would the more appropriate fashion have been to speak to the rest of the workplace rather than issue a written warning and threat of termination to the man who lost his foot?” she asked.

While Hilltop’s counsel Bruce Hodgkinson argued the reprimand was a difficult but necessary enforcement action, Judge Strathdee stated: “All I’m going to say is that it troubles me.”

Workplace Culture and Practices
Testimony revealed that workers routinely cleared auger blockages by climbing above the unguarded screw mechanism. While a maintenance supervisor reportedly advised against it, no corrective action was taken and management was not informed.

Hilltop’s legal team claimed that senior management was unaware of the practice until after the incident occurred.

Conclusion
As sentencing looms, the case highlights serious gaps in safety enforcement and workplace culture at Hilltop Meats. While the company has admitted fault, its post-incident treatment of the injured worker and systemic failures in hazard mitigation have sparked broader questions about accountability and duty of care in the meat processing industry.