Meat processing company Affco has been fined over $60,000 after one of its employees fell nearly seven metres in a workplace accident last year.
The Hamilton District Court today was told that in March last year an employee suffered multiple compound fractures in their left leg and fractured toes in both feet after falling almost seven metres into a carton well area while working in Affco's Horotiu premises.
Affco was fined $56,250 by the Labour Group of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and ordered to pay $8000 in reparation.
A risk of falling had previously been identified in 2005 when the premises had undergone significant refurbishment.
However, the preventative measures taken, including installing a gate at the top of the well-shaft and providing employees with a fall arrest harness, were not sufficient to prevent the fall on 26 March.