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$154,000 fines and reparation after accident
An agricultural company has been fined $100,000 after its employee tripped while working on machinery. As the employee fell he put out his hand to steady himself but unfortunately he touched a pulley system which pulled his hand into the machine, resulting in the loss of two and a half of his fingers on that hand.
A guard over the pulley should have been fitted but was not in place despite the firm’s own health and safety register noting the need for a guard on the pulley system.
In addition to the fine the company also paid the employee $54,000 in reparation.
It is no use just identifying a hazard and writing it in your hazard register. You must actually take action to eliminate the hazard and in this case a simple guard would have saved the employee from injury and such guards have been common on this type machine for over 50 years.
Alan Knowsley
Health & Safety Lawyer
Wellington
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