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Court Summary - at a glance

Date of offence:
17 March 2017
 
Plea:
Guilty
 
Decision:
Convicted
 
Final decision date:
 
Fine imposed:
$332,000

Safety lessons learned:
  1. Undertake an adequate risk assessment to identify the hazards and risks associated with the screw conveyor.
  2. Ensured the screw conveyor was adequately guarded. 

Defendant name:
Alliance Group Limited
 
Industry:
Manufacturing
 
Date of offence:
17 March 2017
 
Facts in brief:
The victim sustained serious injury while at work for the defendant undertaking a task known as ‘blood drying’. The victim was checking for blockages in the screw conveyor when he placed his right hand inside the open box section of the machine. His hand came into contact with the rotating screw and his right hand was amputated. He had been employed with the defendant five days when the incident occurred. While the victim had observed the task of blood drying being carried out, he had never undertaken the entire process himself prior to the incident. His competency to undertake the task without supervision had not been formally assessed by the defendant.
 
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:
Timaru - District Court
 
Plea:
Guilty
 
Final decision date:
 
Decision:
Convicted
 
Fine imposed:
$332,000
 
Maximum fine available:
$1,500,000
 
Reparation:
Prior to sentencing the defendant made a payment to the victim in the region of $48,000 and no further reparation was ordered.