Court Summary - at a glance

Date of offence:
20 November 2013
 
Plea:
Guilty
 
Decision:
Convicted
 
Final decision date:
 
Fine imposed:
$25,000

Safety lessons learned:

Ensure that the nip point hazard present by the v-belt and the pulley on the mat cutter are isolated from employees by guarding that meets AS:4024 Safety of Machinery Standards.

Defendant name:
Pultron Composites Limited
 
Industry:
Manufacturing
 
Date of offence:
20 November 2013
 
Facts in brief:
The defendant company produces a range of fiberglass products in its Gisborne factory. The victim is employed by the company as a Senior Technician in its factory.

The victim and another employee were using the large mat cutter. They were having some issues with the spindle not revolving fast enough to use the blade. An engineer at the company showed the two employees how to increase tension on the v-belt to fix the issue.

The victim was operating the machine after lunch, where he tightened the tension bolt and the four outer bolts. He leaned over the machine and supported himself with his arm on the driveshaft and used his right hand to press the start button. The machine powered on and he felt his left hand being dragged into the nip point and became caught.

The injuries were part amputation of his little left finger, tendor injury to his ring finger and compound fracture to his middle finger.
 
Offence section:
S6 Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992
 
Date(s) charged:

Court:
Gisborne - District Court
 
Plea:
Guilty
 
Final decision date:
 
Decision:
Convicted
 
Fine imposed:
$25,000
 
Maximum fine available:
$250,000
 
Reparation:
$6,000
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