A Manurewa recycling firm has been fined $40,000 and ordered to pay reparation of $50,000 following an incident where an employee lost his arm in a baling machine.
The Manukau District Court heard in December 2012 that on November 26 2011 an employee of General Recycle, Great South Road, Manurewa was operating a machine that baled plastic or metal for recycling. After noticing an item of a different grade of plastic the worker attempted to retrieve it from the baling machine but caught his sleeve - leading to his arm being crushed as the baler operated.
MBIE Labour, General Manager Northern, John Howard said: “The decision of the judge regarding the level of reparation makes it clear that this was an extremely serious incident and she commented that it would not be appropriate to reduce the award because of the financial state of the business.
“All too often employees are seriously injured at work, when it is their fundamental right to go home safe at the end of their working day.”
Company fined after employee loses arm
Tuesday, 08 January 2013
