A workplace accident at Hilltop Meats in Young, New South Wales, left Dean Spencer with a partially severed left leg. The incident occurred on October 20, 2021, while Spencer was clearing a blockage in a meal conveyor. He recalls waking up in a hospital bed, confused and panicked, realizing he had lost his leg. "I just remember panicking, because I didn't know what happened," he said.

While still recovering, Spencer received a call from his employer requesting a meeting. Arriving in a wheelchair with his wife, he was shocked to be presented with a written warning. "They basically said, 'Look, sign this written warning or you pretty much don't have a job,'" he said, feeling pressured to sign. He expressed frustration, stating, "I reckon it's utter crap, and pretty weak that they tried to blame me for something that wasn't my fault and [while still recovering]."

Following the accident, SafeWork NSW took legal action against Hilltop Meats for breaches of the Work Health and Safety Act. In September, the abattoir was fined $750,000 after pleading guilty to failing to ensure safe working conditions and exposing employees to serious injury risks. The court found that the abattoir did not conduct a risk assessment for the task of removing blockages in the screw conveyor chute. Judge Wendy Strathdee criticized the company for its actions, calling it "heartless in the extreme" to issue Spencer a warning while he was recovering from a traumatic injury. She stated, "The demand for Mr. Spencer to attend the workplace during a period when he was recovering from a very traumatic injury resulting in a significant disability is offensive."

Spencer had been involved in setting up the abattoir before moving away from the area. He returned just months before the accident. On the day of the incident, he performed his usual safety checks before starting his task. A co-worker inadvertently activated the conveyor while Spencer was on it, leading to his foot being caught and dragging him toward a meal bin several meters above the factory floor. "If I [had] gotten through the door — luckily my leg blocked it — it would have probably been a fatality that day instead of a rescue," he said.

For 45 minutes, Spencer fought to free himself from the machinery, unaware of the severity of his injuries. He initially thought he might have two broken legs. During his two-month recovery at Canberra Hospital, he experienced a mix of emotions, particularly missing his family. Ultimately, part of his left leg was amputated, and he lost significant movement in his right foot due to the accident.

In court, it was revealed that the conveyor guards had been removed for visibility, and there was no formal safety training for unblocking the screw conveyor. Workers had developed their own procedures, which included climbing up the conveyor. Following the incident, Hilltop Meats implemented changes, restoring conveyor covers, updating safety procedures, and retraining staff. They also installed a knife gate to prevent meal from dropping into the screw conveyor, reducing blockages.

Nearly four years after the accident, Spencer describes his recovery as ongoing. He now uses a prosthesis and participates in weightlifting and CrossFit. "No one tells you until it happens, just how much more [work] you have to now do to look after your body, just for it to function," he said. He finds it challenging to accept the loss of his limb, especially at a time when he should be in the prime of his life.

Despite the trauma, Spencer has discovered inner strength. "I'm just not the type of person to quit," he said. "The show must go on and I will keep pushing the limits as an amputee." During the legal proceedings, the defense counsel stated that Hilltop Meats "unreservedly apologized to Mr. Spencer … for the resulting exposure to risk and serious injuries [he] suffered."