Logging company fined $100K after worker seriously injured

The incident happened on a forestry site in Rangiuru. Photo / File

A serious injury caused by a rolling log has resulted in a hefty fine for Cropp Logging.

The Rotorua-based company was sentenced in Tauranga District Court today to the $100,000 fine and $80,000 in reparations.

The worker was on his first day in a new role on a forestry site in Rangiuru when he was hit by a tumbling log and seriously injured.

WorkSafe said after an investigation the company was found to have failed to complete a Safe Behavioural Observation of the worker, did not fully induct the worker into his new role and did not ensure no machinery was operating above where he was working.

"Forestry is an inherently dangerous industry, from the heavy machinery being worked with, the terrain that work is conducted on and the many people involved in the process," WorkSafe's Simon Humphries said.

"A lax approach to managing risk on forestry sites is not acceptable, particularly when considering the rates of fatalities and harm in the industry.

"Systems and procedures have their purpose and place, and should be implemented to keep everyone safe from harm in the workplace."

When the worker was injured, the site was using a cabling system to move logs uphill when a log became dislodged and rolled downhill, hitting the man.

WorkSafe found the operation of a digger above the worker increased the risk of a log becoming dislodged.

The maximum fine for a company failing to ensure the health and safety of workers under the Health and Safety at Work Act is $1.5 million.

The fine for Cropp Logging was reduced from $750,000 for financial reasons and out of consideration for the size of the family-owned company.