A sawmill in the Bay of Plenty has been fined $20,000 after one of its workers suffered multiple fractures when he was trapped in a conveyor belt.
Sequal Lumber Limited Partnership in Kawerau was also ordered to pay reparation of $8000 following the accident in September last year, Newstalk ZB reported.
The employee dropped his shovel, tripped over it and fell onto the conveyor belt, trapping his right arm between the conveyer and its pulley.
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment spokeswoman Ona De Rooy said the accident could have been prevented if Sequal Lumber had put in place adequate machine guards.
