WA worker fined for burn prank

A Perth man has been fined $6000 after horseplay with a workmate resulted in serious burns to the co-worker.

Senior plant mechanic Chad Gordon Browning sprayed a fellow employee with a highly flammable brake cleaning chemical for three seconds as a prank in August 2014.

The other man did not realise the chemical was on his shirt and proceeded to work with a welder, which caused the chemical to ignite and resulted in serious burns to the left side of his torso.

He received treatment at Royal Perth Hospital, including a large skin graft, and needed one month off work.

Browning pleaded guilty in Perth Magistrates Court this week to failing to take reasonable care of the safety of another employee and causing serious harm.

He was granted a spent conviction, fined and ordered to pay $517.50 in costs.

Worksafe WA Commissioner Lex McCulloch said pranks in hazardous workplaces could easily turn into serious situations.

"The court accepted that Mr Browning did not intend to cause serious harm to happen, but it should serve as a warning that fooling around in workplaces that contain hazards can easily become serious and result in injuries," he said.