By TOM HAYES
DENNIS Jones’ appeal has been granted, following his sentencing for an October 2021 incident at Dennis Jones Engineering which left an apprentice with life-changing injuries.
Morwell-based Dennis Jones Engineering and its director (Jones) were handed one of the biggest fines in WorkSafe history in November 2023 – a combined fine of $2.24 million.
The company received a $2.1 million fine, while Jones was handed a $140,000 fine and a five-year Community Corrections Order including 600 hours of unpaid community service.
Dennis Jones Engineering and Jones appealed both sentences, which was decided last week on Friday, April 11.
It was decided that Dennis Jones Engineering’s appeal against the sentence involving the $2.1 million fine was refused.
However, Jones’ appeal was granted, as he was resentenced shortly after.
Jones’ Community Corrections Order was reduced to a duration of three years, with the condition to perform 200 hours of unpaid community work, rather than the original five-year CCO and 600 hours of unpaid community service.
The 2021 incident saw second-year apprentice Byron Foley struck on the head with a steel pipe while holding a plastic sleeve that steadied the rotating length of the steel pipe, which was being threaded into a lathe.
Mr Foley spent more than five months in hospital and underwent surgery to get a titanium skull.
