Court Summary - at a glance
Date of offence:
31 October 2016
Plea:
Guilty
Decision:
Convicted
Final decision date:
Fine imposed:
$371,250
Safety lessons learned:
- Ensure the press lay-up area was effectively guarded on both sides or otherwise implemented effective interim controls to ensure hazards and risks were appropriately managed until a permanent solution could be implemented;
- Ensured the machine was either secured against inadvertent movement, or had in place effective systems and procedures for tracking belts where the machine was not secured against inadvertent movement;
- Developed and implemented appropriate procedures (including undertaking task analyses) for manually tracking belts and shuttle nose belts and ensured they are complied with.
Defendant name:
Carter Holt Harvey Limited
Industry:
Manufacturing
Date of offence:
31 October 2016
Facts in brief:
The Defendant is a wood products company that manufactures and supplies timber, laminated veneer lumber and building products.
The victim works in the maintenance team as a shift-fitter and is responsible for monitoring machinery.
On the day of the incident, the victim was instructed to manually align a conveyor belt, which is usually done automatically by the machine. This required the victim to reach into the machine with his torso resting on the frame of the machine and his feet off the floor so he could reach bolts on the underside of the belt. Part of the machine suddenly moved and collided with the victim, causing his chest and shoulder region to be crushed.
The victim works in the maintenance team as a shift-fitter and is responsible for monitoring machinery.
On the day of the incident, the victim was instructed to manually align a conveyor belt, which is usually done automatically by the machine. This required the victim to reach into the machine with his torso resting on the frame of the machine and his feet off the floor so he could reach bolts on the underside of the belt. Part of the machine suddenly moved and collided with the victim, causing his chest and shoulder region to be crushed.
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:
Whangarei - District Court
Plea:
Guilty
Final decision date:
Decision:
Convicted
Fine imposed:
$371,250
Maximum fine available:
$1,500,000
Reparation:
$55,000 for emotional harm
Last updated