A timber company in Taranaki has been fined nearly a quarter of a million dollars after a worker lost three fingers and part of his palm clearing unguarded machinery.
File image. Photo: Unsplash / Oliver Paaske
Taranaki Sawmills Limited was sentenced at the New Plymouth District Court for failing to ensure a machine was safe for workers to operate.
A WorkSafe investigation found there were no effective guarding or emergency stops where the man was attempting to clear the jam in February 2018.
He hasn't been able to return to work.
Reparation of $43,000 was also ordered.
WorkSafe acting chief inspector Danielle Henry said time and time again workers were sustaining life changing injuries as a result of operating unguarded machinery.
She said manufacturing industries needed to place the importance of risk assessment high on their agendas.