Court Summary - at a glance
Date of offence:
6 April 2016
Plea:
Guilty
Decision:
Convicted
Final decision date:
Fine imposed:
$100,000
Safety lessons learned:
- Fit the Extrusion Machine with appropriate guarding/barriers;
- Install appropriately located emergency stops on the Extrusion Machine;
- Have adequate systems in place for identifying hazards in the workplace;
- Have an adequate safe operating procedure for using the Extrusion Machine; and
- Have adequate policies/processes in place for training workers in the safe use of the Extrusion Machine (ie in accordance with a settled standard operating procedure).
Defendant name:
Budget Plastics Limited
Industry:
Manufacturing
Date of offence:
6 April 2016
Facts in brief:
The victim was employed by the defendant company. On the day of the incident, he was feeding waste plastic into an extrusion machine. As he did so, some of the waste plastic became caught in the machine and began being dragged into it. The victim became entangled in the waste plastic, lost his balance, and his left hand was dragged into the machine together with the waste plastic.
Another worker saw what was happening and was able to turn the machine off and come to the victim’s aid. The victim was airlifted to hospital where he underwent surgery for the injuries to his hand. The only remaining digits were his thumb and half of his forefinger.
Another worker saw what was happening and was able to turn the machine off and come to the victim’s aid. The victim was airlifted to hospital where he underwent surgery for the injuries to his hand. The only remaining digits were his thumb and half of his forefinger.
Offence section:
Sections 36(1)(a), 48(1) and (2)(c) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015
Date(s) charged:
Court:
Palmerston North - District Court
Plea:
Guilty
Final decision date:
Decision:
Convicted
Fine imposed:
$100,000
Maximum fine available:
$1.5million
Reparation:
$37,500
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