$680,000 For Safety Failures At Timber Mill

Recently one of the largest timber manufacturer and exporter based in Rotorua has been through the Courts after WorkSafe brought charges for 2 workplace accidents nearly two years ago.

In March 2017 a worker trying to reinstate a dislodged chain on a timber de-stacking machine got his hand caught by lost the tops of three fingers.

December prior to this saw another worker (at a different branch) requiring to have their hand amputated after getting it caught in a wood planer.

Following WorkSafe investigations a series of failures were identified in both instances. The manufacturer's guard for the plane was located in a cupboard next to the planer, no hazard inspections in place to identify the risk or checks to ensure guards were being used.

The de-stacking machine had inadequate guarding, no documented Standard Operating Procedures, and the worker was not trained to know where the emergency stop buttons were located.

Fines totally $680,000 were awarded against the company, only $80,000 of which was reparations to the victims.