Court Summary - at a glance
Date of offence:
16 October 2013
Plea:
Guilty
Decision:
Convicted
Final decision date:
Fine imposed:
$48,750
Safety lessons learned:
- Have guarding in place for the exposed nip points on the free flow conveyor
- Ensure staff are advised of the specific hazards such as the exposed nip points on the conveyor
- Update the hazard register to reflect the findings of the audit
- Putting interim controls in place once the audit identified the nip points of the conveyor in the free flow department as a hazard
- Ensure staff are educated effectively after the incident in July 2013 involving the skinning conveyor.
Defendant name:
Tegel Foods Limited
Industry:
Manufacturing
Date of offence:
16 October 2013
Facts in brief:
The victim was employed by the Defendant company as a process worker. The incident relates to a belt conveyor of the workplace, the system transports marinated chicken from the downstairs area into a spiral freeze where it is snap frozen before being packaged for sale. On this particular day, the victim was checking the marinade levels in the injector tank when he noticed a build-up of product on the underside of the belt. He was clearing the machine when he realised his hand was caught. He told one of his co-workers to stop the belt but he was still unable to free his hand. The engineering department was called and the belt conveyor was cut in order to free his hand. He was treated to abrasions to the third and fourth digits of his left hand. Stitches were required to re-attach the nail on his fourth digit.
Offence section:
S6 Health and Safety Act 1992
Date(s) charged:
Court:
New Plymouth - District Court
Plea:
Guilty
Final decision date:
Decision:
Convicted
Fine imposed:
$48,750
Maximum fine available:
$250,000
Reparation:
$4,125
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