The WorkSafe website will be unavailable on Tuesday 16 September from 12pm–5pm due to planned maintenance.
Our other online services, including the online services portal(external link) and Energy Safety portal(external link), will remain available.
To notify us of an injury, illness or incident at work, visit our online services portal(external link). For urgent notifications, please call us on 0800 030 040. For general or non-urgent enquiries, email us at info@worksafe.govt.nz.
Court Summary - at a glance
It was reasonably practicable for Fresh Meats to have:
a) conducted an adequate risk assessment of the slaughter floor pre-operation set-up task, including for the inspection and cleaning of chain 2;
b) ensured dangerous parts on chain 2 were adequately guarded;
c) developed, implemented, communicated and monitored compliance with an adequate safe system of work for workers to use during the slaughter floor pre-operation set-up tasks, including procedures for locking out and isolating equipment to be cleaned; and
d) adequately monitored and reviewed the effectiveness of controls chosen to manage risks to workers using and cleaning machinery and equipment on the slaughter floor, including chain
The victim was employed as a slaughter floor labourer. On 22 November 2018 the victim started work at approximately 6.00 am. She was part of the preoperative crew and was cleaning equipment prior to the day’s production.
The victim was cleaning the second chain and focused on removing fat that was stuck in the chain. At the time she was cleaning it, the chain was operational and moving. Whilst she was doing so, her arm was pushed by one of the pushers and her arm got trapped in the pinch point between the two chains.
Last updated