Court Summary - at a glance
Date of offence:
5 February 2015
Plea:
Guilty
Decision:
Convicted
Final decision date:
Fine imposed:
$55,000
Safety lessons learned:
- Install a fixed guard at the nip point on a conveyor;
- Ensure that all employees working with conveyors are adequately trained.
Defendant name:
Niagara Sawmilling Company Limited
Industry:
Manufacturing
Date of offence:
5 February 2015
Facts in brief:
The Defendant company operates a sawmill site which is divided into three departments; sawmill, drymill and remanufacturing.
The victim was employed as a machine operator. He usually worked in the remanufacturing department, however, on the day of the incident he was working in the drymill alongside the fillet conveyor belt. His role was to straighten timber fillets as they were leaving the conveyor belt onto a stack.
When a fillet left the conveyor and bounced off the stack, the victim reached out to grab it and his glove became caught in the drum roller. This drew his hand into the unguarded nip point of the conveyor belt.
The victim suffered a fractured left wrist and burn wounds where skin was removed on the palm of his left hand and fingers.
The victim was employed as a machine operator. He usually worked in the remanufacturing department, however, on the day of the incident he was working in the drymill alongside the fillet conveyor belt. His role was to straighten timber fillets as they were leaving the conveyor belt onto a stack.
When a fillet left the conveyor and bounced off the stack, the victim reached out to grab it and his glove became caught in the drum roller. This drew his hand into the unguarded nip point of the conveyor belt.
The victim suffered a fractured left wrist and burn wounds where skin was removed on the palm of his left hand and fingers.
Offence section:
Sections 6 and 50(1)(a) of the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992
Date(s) charged:
Court:
Invercargill - District Court
Plea:
Guilty
Final decision date:
Decision:
Convicted
Fine imposed:
$55,000
Maximum fine available:
$250,000
Reparation:
$10,000
Last updated