Company fined $4,000 after worker’s finger amputated

Monday 10 December 2001

A Balclutha sawmill company has been fined $4000 after being prosecuted by the Occupational Safety and Health Service.

The prosecution comes after Hollows Timber Co Ltd failed to ensure the safety of one of their workers after an accident in July this year.

A worker was seriously harmed when the index finger on his left hand was amputated by a saw blade. $2,500 of the fine went to the victim.

"In this case the company failed to ensure the guarding on the machine was correct and safe," said John Pannett, Service Manager of OSH Southland.

"The company should have been complying with standard safety steps for using pendulums saws, these have been around since 1973.

"The practicable step the company could have taken was to completely guard the sides of the blade to ensure there was no access to the saw blade when it was in its non operating position.

"Recent decisions from New Zealand courts are showing that unsafe work practices are simply unacceptable.

"Health and safety has to be an integral part of any business.

"Employers must take a systematic approach to identifying workplace hazards and put systems in place to protect workers. These systems need to be constantly reviewed and updated."