Court Summary - at a glance

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

Safety lessons learned:
  1. Enforce two person operation procedure when two workers are operating the machine.
  2. Fit the machine with a presence detection system, such as a laser or light sensor which would stop the operation of the machine if a person enters the zone, for when the machine was set to one person operation.
  3. Facilitate effective communication between the workers operating the machine.

 

Defendant name:
Roof Manufacturers Limited
 
Industry:
Manufacturing
 
Date of offence:
30 July 2013
 
Facts in brief:
The victim was employed by the Defendant company as a machine operator. In particular, a machine is used to fold and cut sheet metal, which can be operated by one or two persons and is accordingly fitted with two foot pedals. On the 30th July, the victim and another employee were working on the machine. They were positioned on opposite ends of the machine. The employee stopped the machine to talk to another person and the victim had placed his hand under the clamp of the machine to clear out debris. The employee restarted the machine with the foot pedal while the victim’s hand was still under the clamp resulting in a crushed wrist.
 
Offence section:
S6 Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992
 
Date(s) charged:

Court:
Tauranga - District Court
 
Plea:
Guilty
 
Final decision date:
 
Decision:
Convicted
 
Fine imposed:
$25,000
 
Maximum fine available:
$250,000
 
Reparation:
$10,000
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