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Court Summary - at a glance

Date of offence:
3 June 2015
 
Plea:
Guilty
 
Decision:
Convicted
 
Final decision date:
 
Fine imposed:
$39,375

Safety lessons learned:
  1. Adequately maintain a guard so that employees are isolated from the hazard of contact with the rotating cutting blades on a machine;
  2. Ensure there is an adequate system in place to inspect, document, track and close out any faults on the safety system of a machine and to ensure that this system is regularly reviewed for effectiveness; and
  3. Ensure that this system is complied with.

Defendant name:
Timbershade Blinds Limited
 
Industry:
Manufacturing
 
Date of offence:
3 June 2015
 
Facts in brief:
The Defendant company owned a Weinig Hydromat four sided timber moulding machine. The machine was used for shaping timber into straps for the manufacturing of wooden blinds. The machine was fitted with a safety interlock switch on the hinged hood that covered the rotating cutting blades. At the time of the incident the interlock needed to be replaced as the componentry inside the switch was broken. This meant that when the hood was opened the power supply continued and the blades continued to operate.

The victim is a process worker employed by the Defendant. On the day of the incident, a piece of timber became jammed in the machine. He opened the guard and, due to the fault, the blades continued to rotate. His right index finger and middle fingers made contact with the blades.

The incident resulted in amputation of the victim’s middle and index fingers between the first and second joint.
 
Offence section:
Sections 6 and 50(1)(a) of the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992
 
Date(s) charged:
1 December 2015

Court:
Papakura - District Court
 
Plea:
Guilty
 
Final decision date:
 
Decision:
Convicted
 
Fine imposed:
$39,375
 
Maximum fine available:
$250,000
 
Reparation:
$20,000