Company fined $125k after worker loses arm to tree-shredder

A Christchurch green waste company and one of its directors have been ordered to pay $125,000 over an employee who had to have his arm amputated after being trapped for several hours in a tree-shredding machine.

Canterbury Greenwaste Processors Limited and director Luke Charles Kepple were convicted and ordered to pay $100,000 in fines and $25,000 in reparations following the incident in September last year.

Christchurch District Court was told the victim was processing green waste using a 'ripper'- a truck-mounted shredding machine - and was operating a crane to lift unprocessed green waste into the machine's hopper.

After climbing down from the crane cab, the worker tripped on the ground next to the truck and put his arm out to steady himself.

His arm became entangled in the nip point of the unguarded conveyor belt used to transfer the processed waste away from the ripper.

"The worker remained trapped in the conveyor for several hours until emergency services were able to free the remains of his arm, which was later amputated in hospital,'' said Jean Martin of the Government's labour group.

A labour group investigation found the accident could have been avoided if the company had put in place adequate machine guarding, carried out regular hazard checks, and put in place safe operating procedures for using the machinery.

"This worker experienced injury and trauma that no person should ever be subjected too,'' said Ms Martin.

Canterbury Greenwaste Processors and Mr Kepple were charged under Section 6 of the Health and Safety in Employment Act for failing to take all practicable steps to ensure workplace safety.

"The (labour group) has a nationwide compliance project underway to reduce the unacceptably high level of fatal and serious harm injuries associated with the unsafe use of machinery.

"We expect all employers to take the minimum steps required to prevent harm to their employee - particularly where exposed machinery is concerned. Unfortunately, (the labour group's) investigation into the incident found that Greenwaste and one of its directors had failed to do so,'' she said.

Greenwaste Processors Ltd could not be reached for comment.