The Australian federal government's workplace watchdog, Comcare, said on August 11 that the country's Department of Defence has been sued for failing to carry out its obligations under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, according to The Guardian .
The allegation is that the Australian Department of Defence failed to provide a safe workplace by implementing policies prohibiting personnel from entering crocodile-infested waters, conducting risk assessments and providing detailed safety reports relating to the dangers of crocodiles.
If found guilty, the Australian Department of Defense could be fined up to AUD 1.5 million (about VND 23 billion).
Two Australian soldiers were attacked by crocodiles in August 2021 (illustration)
THE GUARDIAN SCREENSHOT
Two soldiers - a private and a corporal - were hospitalized after escaping the jaws of a 2.5-meter crocodile in August 2021. At that time, the two soldiers were stationed in Darwin (the capital of Australia's Northern Territory) and were assigned to transport an amphibious ship from Darwin to Townsville (in the Australian state of Queensland) for maintenance, according to Comcare.
The two men were allowed to go fishing on a Zodiac inflatable boat in a remote area of the Cape York Peninsula, about 750km north of Cairns in Queensland state. After dropping anchor, they jumped into the water and were attacked by the crocodile “almost immediately”, Comcare said.
“The crocodile dragged one of the soldiers into the water and bit him while his comrades fought the animal off, allowing the two men to escape and board the Zodiac boat,” the Australian government agency said. Both soldiers were seriously injured.
The Australian Department of Defence confirmed the lawsuit but declined to comment further, citing ongoing legal proceedings. A spokesperson for the department said it was grateful to the public and emergency workers who helped the two servicemen after the attack.
Source link
Comment (0)