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Court Summary - at a glance

Date of offence:
24 October 2013
 
Plea:
Guilty
 
Decision:
Convicted
 
Final decision date:
 
Fine imposed:
$36,000

Safety lessons learned:
  1. Ensure that the chipper machine is adequately guarded.
  2. Document and implement a detailed Standard Operating Procedure for the chipper machine outlining when and how general housekeeping, such as cleaning, and general maintenance is to be performed and when.

Defendant name:
Pacific Pine Industries Limited
 
Industry:
Manufacturing
 
Date of offence:
24 October 2013
 
Facts in brief:
Defendant company owns and operates a saw mill. The victim had been employed with the Defendant as a mill hand.

On 24 October 2013 the victim approached the chipper through the open gate guard and ducked under the shaker. He was struck on the left hand side of his forehead by the spinning screen counterweight. He then staggered backwards and tripped over the stabiliser wall. He fell and struck his head on a heavy wooden box which contained the replacement blades for the chipper.

He suffered a fracture to his skull, a bruised brain and presence of air inside the cranial cavity indicating an open head wound where the brain had been exposed to the atmosphere.
 
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:
$36,000
 
Maximum fine available:
$250,000
 
Reparation:
$30,000