NSCA Foundation

Company sentenced for worker's lost hand


Monday, 28 August, 2017

Budget Plastics Ltd has become the first company to be sentenced under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 in New Zealand.

This follows an incident where one of its employees had their hand dragged into a machine and was left with only his thumb and half a forefinger as a result.

The WorkSafe New Zealand investigation of the incident found that the company had inadequate systems for identifying and managing risks; their safe operating procedures were outdated; their policies and processes for training staff were lacking; and key safety features such as emergency stop buttons within reach of the operators were absent.

“The lesson here is to fix machinery as soon as risks are identified. If you can’t fix it, then take it out of service until it is safe to use,” said WorkSafe General Manager of Operations and Specialist Services Brett Murray.

“The company identified issues with the guarding on this machine six weeks before the incident, and yet at the time of the incident, nothing had been done to guard, or isolate, the machine.

“The failure of Budget Plastics Ltd to take action to this known risk left their employee with a life-long injury. Sadly, it could have been avoided by acting quickly and guarding the machine properly.”

The company appeared in the Palmerston North District Court on 23 May 2017 for sentencing, and in the subsequently released judgment, the court issued a fine of $100,000 and ordered reparation of $37,500.

NSCA Foundation is a member based, non-profit organisation working together with members to improve workplace health and safety throughout Australia. For more information and membership details click here
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