A man who was injured in a loading mishap at the Pan Pac Forest Products mill on Friday was not operating the machinery.
The circumstances were clarified yesterday by company managing director Doug Ducker who said the employee was struck by product being carried by a forklift on the site at Whirinaki, north of Napier.
It happened about 4.30pm on the last shift for the week in the drymill area of the site at Whirinaki, north of Napier.
The man, aged in the 60s, a national executive member of the First Union and well known for his efforts in trying to ensure the workplace safety and wellbeing of his workmates, late today remained in the intensive care unit at Hawke's Bay Hospital in Hastings, where he was reported to still be in a critical condition.
Government workplace health and safety agency WorkSafe is continuing an investigation, including the standard inquiry practice of impounding for examination the machinery involved.