Court Summary - at a glance

Date of offence:
28 August 2014
 
Plea:
Guilty
 
Decision:
Convicted
 
Final decision date:
 
Fine imposed:
$25,000

Safety lessons learned:
  1. Ensure a nip point of a conveyor is identified as a hazard;
  2. Ensure a fixed guard is installed to isolate the nip point.
  3. Ensure effective policies and procedures are in place for the operation and maintenance of a conveyor;
  4. Ensure an effective system is in place for identifying hazards to employees;
  5. Ensure training requirements are identified for employees working with machinery.

Defendant name:
Stuart Timber Company Limited
 
Industry:
Forestry
 
Date of offence:
28 August 2014
 
Facts in brief:
The Defendant company operates a sawmill.

The victim was employed as a timber worker. On the day of the incident he was tasked with debarking logs and clearing the area around the debarker.

When the victim reached under the moving conveyor belt to remove built up bark, his hand became caught in an unguarded nip point.

The victim suffered a 15cm laceration under his left arm pit.
 
Offence section:
Sections 6 and 50(1)(a) of the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992
 
Date(s) charged:

Court:
Gore - District Court
 
Plea:
Guilty
 
Final decision date:
 
Decision:
Convicted
 
Fine imposed:
$25,000
 
Maximum fine available:
$250,000
 
Reparation:
$7,000
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