Court Summary - at a glance

Date of offence:
2 April 2021
 
Plea:
Guilty
 
Decision:
Convicted and fined
 
Final decision date:
 
Fine imposed:
$350,000

Safety lessons learned:

The defendant failed to:

  • Ensure it provided a safe system of work in respect of the LTR2 meal bagging machine including undertaking an adequate risk assessment of the LTR2 meal bagging machine and providing effective training and supervision to its workers concerning the use of the LTR2 meal bagging machine.
  • Ensure the LTR2 meal bagging machine was adequately guarded.

Defendant name:
Kakariki Proteins Limited
 
Industry:
Manufacturing
 
Date of offence:
2 April 2021
 
Facts in brief:
Kakariki Proteins Limited (KPL) produces meals and oils for stock food and has been doing since 2007. KPL has a plant at 1567A Kakariki Road, Fielding.

On the 2 April 2021, the victim, worker for KPL was tasked to bag meal using the relevant LTR2 bagging machine. The victim suffered fatal injuries while at work, he was trapped and crushed by the LTR2 bagging machine. He was found slumped over a full bag of meal in the machine with the frame pinning him down.
 
Offence section:
S36(1)(a) and s48(1) and (2)(c) of the Health and Safety and Work Act 2015 and s56(1) and 56(6)(a)
 
Date(s) charged:
1 April 2022

Court:
Palmerston North - District Court
 
Plea:
Guilty
 
Final decision date:
 
Decision:
Convicted and fined
 
Fine imposed:
$350,000
 
Maximum fine available:
$1.5 million
 
Reparation:
Emotional harm - $130,000
Costs - $10,985 legal costs
 
Related Documents:
PDF
WorkSafe New Zealand v Kakariki Proteins Limited (PDF 539 KB)
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