Court Summary - at a glance

Date of offence:
29 April 2013
 
Plea:
Guilty
 
Decision:
Convicted
 
Final decision date:
 
Fine imposed:
$30,000

Safety lessons learned:

The log splitter should be operated two-handed.

Defendant name:
Forest and Farm Services Limited
 
Industry:
Manufacturing
 
Date of offence:
29 April 2013
 
Facts in brief:
The Defendant company operates a logging contracting business based in Putaruru and engages casual labour as required.

The Defendant was the employer of the victim who on 29 April 2013, while at work, suffered lacerations to the thumb and index finger of his right hand, resulting in the surgical amputation of his index finger, when they were caught between the blade of a firewood log splitter and a block of wood he was holding.

Approximately a year before the accident the control lever connecting the two hand controls on the machine broke. Mr Graeme Ross Kingstone, the Defendant’s sole director, did not re-connect the hand controls. Instead, he modified
 
Offence section:
S6 Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992
 
Date(s) charged:

Court:
Tokoroa - District Court
 
Plea:
Guilty
 
Final decision date:
 
Decision:
Convicted
 
Fine imposed:
$30,000
 
Maximum fine available:
$250,000
 
Reparation:
$15,000
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