$280,000 Fine for Hand Injury

In May 2023 A Hawke’s Bay meatworks in New Zealand has been found guilty of health and safety failures following a horrific injury in October 2020. An oversight of training and supervision contributed to a 17 year old worker, Alesana Baker, having his hand seriously injured on machinery.

The court heard that Mr Baker was trained to use the machine by a co-worker who started on the same day as him. When following the co-workers method Mr Baker’s right hand was struck by the brisket cutter blades which paritally amputated his thumb, index finger, middle finger and ring finger.

• A fine of $280,000 was imposed and reparations of $48,000

• Progressive Meats was charged under sections 36(1)(a), 48(1) and 48(2)(c) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015

• Being a PCBU having a duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers who work for the PCBU, while the workers were at work in the business or undertaking, namely at its meat processing site, did fail to comply with that duty, and that failure exposed workers to a risk of death or serious injury arising from the use of the plant, namely a brisket cutter.

For the full report visit WorkSafe NZ see here.