Court Summary - at a glance

Date of offence:
30 September 2014
 
Plea:
Not Guilty
 
Decision:
Convicted
 
Final decision date:
 
Fine imposed:
$61,600

Safety lessons learned:
  1. Ensuring that a fixed guard was fitted to the press to prevent operator access to the dangerous part of the machine while in use;
  2. Ensuring that an interlock guard was fitted which, when open, would allow removal of material while disabling the ability to operate the press;
  3. Having a safe method of work for carrying out tasks where work-pieces are obstructed by guards;
  4. Ensuring that employees are trained and monitored in the safe operation of the press.

Defendant name:
Avon Industries Limited
 
Industry:
Manufacturing
 
Date of offence:
30 September 2014
 
Facts in brief:
The Defendant company operates an industrial engineering factory.

An employee of the Defendant was using a 90 ton press machine to cut brackets from lengths of steel. When the last bracket was to be cut, the length of steel was too short to be held in place from outside the machine. The rear guard had been removed that day for set up and left off. The employee reached into an unguarded entry point to hold the steel in place by hand while another employee operated the press.

The employee’s right index finger was crushed between the cutting die and stationary bed.

 
Offence section:
Sections 6 and 50(1)(a) of the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992
 
Date(s) charged:

Court:
Whangarei - District Court
 
Plea:
Not Guilty
 
Final decision date:
 
Decision:
Convicted
 
Fine imposed:
$61,600
 
Maximum fine available:
$250,000
 
Reparation:
$8,000
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