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Employer penalised $52,000 fines and $20,000 reparation
An employee was trapped and injured while carrying out maintenance work when parts of the machine moved pinning the employee.
When Worksafe investigated it found that the machine had not been properly locked to prevent machine parts moving during maintenance. It also discovered that two other machines in the workplace were faulty in that safety devices designed to prevent injury did not work and employees could be exposed to unguarded moving parts. As well as a fine of $52,000 the District Court ordered reparation of $20,000 to the employee.
The employer should have had in place mechanisms to prevent access to the machines unless they were effectively locked and should have ensured proper training of staff on the use of the machines and safety features.
Alan Knowsley
Health & Safety Lawyer
Wellington
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