Employer ordered to pay over $613,000 after employee killed by machinery

The District Court has ordered an employer to pay over $613,000 after an employee was killed by machinery in a health and safety incident.

The employee was working with a large machine that spanned over several areas of a building. There was a fault and the machine stopped. The employee reached into the machine to clear the fault.

The machine unexpectedly began operating again and pulled in the employee, killing her.

Worksafe noted in its investigation that despite the highly dangerous nature of the machine, it was not adequately guarded, and the employee could easily reach inside.

The Court ordered to employer to pay a fine of $350,000 in addition to reparation of $263,762 to the employee’s family.

Installing adequate guards on dangerous machinery is one of the simplest and most effective ways to protect an employee’s health and safety. Had the employer taken this step, the entire incident may have been avoided.

If there are concerns about the protective equipment installed on dangerous machinery at your workplace, it is wise to speak with a professional experienced in the area.

Leading law firms committed to helping clients cost-effectively will have a range of fixed-priced Initial Consultations to suit most people’s needs in quickly learning what their options are.  At Rainey Collins we have an experienced team who can answer your questions and put you on the right track.