An employee has suffered long-term injuries after having his hand caught in a machine. The employee was contracted through his employer to work in a processing factory and was clearing a piece of machinery when he accidentally triggered the machine.

The District Court convicted the employer and the principal under the Health and Safety in Employment Act for failing to ensure the safety of the employee.

The employer failed to comply with its policies which required the employer to complete a site visit to identify any “high risk” hazards before the employee started work.

The principal likewise failed to keep the employee safe by continuing to keep the machine in operation despite knowing about the risk posed by the inadequately guarded blade.

The Court ordered the employer and the principal to pay the employee over $15,000 in reparations for emotional harm, and fined the companies over $40,000 and $53,000 respectively.