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Court Summary - at a glance

Date of offence:
7 July 2016
 
Plea:
Guilty
 
Decision:
Convicted
 
Final decision date:
 
Fine imposed:
$100,000 (reduced on the basis of the defendant’s financial capacity)

Safety lessons learned:

1. Ensured a safe system of work that included ensuring:

  • a competent person conducted an effective risk assessment;
  • it developed and implemented an effective safe system of work for removing the mould on the machine;
  • the provision of any information, training and instruction that is necessary to protect workers from risks to their safety when operating the machine.

2. Ensured that the machine was effectively guarded to prevent workers being exposed to the risk of entrapment between the mould and movable platen.

Defendant name:
Furntech Plastics Limited
 
Industry:
Manufacturing
 
Date of offence:
7 July 2016
 
Facts in brief:
The victim was an employee of the defendant company and commenced work for the defendant 6 days prior to the incident. He was injured when his left hand was trapped between the mould and platen of a plastic manufacturing machine. The victim suffered six broken bones in his left hand and wrist, lacerations and severe crushing injuries causing him restricted movement.
 
Offence section:
Sections 48(1) and (2)(c) and 36(1)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015
 
Date(s) charged:

Court:
Auckland - District Court
 
Plea:
Guilty
 
Final decision date:
 
Decision:
Convicted
 
Fine imposed:
$100,000 (reduced on the basis of the defendant’s financial capacity)
 
Maximum fine available:
$1,500,000
 
Reparation:
$25,000 for emotional harm and $8,693.23 for consequential loss