More surgery for man caught in shredder

Chris Fromont is feeling strong, his wife says, despite losing both his legs and an arm in a tree shredder last week.

But as the 48-year-old waits for his fourth operation, an investigation into his horrific accident has led to more safety concerns.

The Department of Labour announced yesterday that it had shut an industrial shredder in Wellington, saying it was "so dangerous that it had to be stopped immediately".

The department made the discovery in a nationwide inspection of shredders that began after Mr Fromont's accident at the New Plymouth refuse transfer station.

Mr Fromont's family yesterday allowed a photo of him to be taken at his bedside in Taranaki Base Hospital.

In a statement released to the Herald last night, his wife, Anne, said her husband had undergone three operations and was awaiting a fourth that was yet to be scheduled.

"Chris is feeling strong, and we as a family are focused on him getting better," her statement said.

It was the first time Mrs Fromont had commented publicly since the accident on February 22, and she said the family were "hugely appreciative" of rescue and medical personnel whom she credited with saving her husband's life.

"The quality of care that Chris has received and the efforts that the surgeons and other medical staff have made in Chris' recovery have been outstanding and a real credit to their professionalism."

Mrs Fromont also thanked family, friends and the wider community for their "tremendous support".

A family spokesman said Mrs Fromont did not wish to comment on allegations that the shredder that caused her husband's injuries was faulty or unsafe.

But a former workmate of Mr Fromont yesterday told the Taranaki Daily News that the machine was notorious for jamming, maintenance levels were dangerous and the shredder was poorly managed by Manawatu Waste.

Graeme Nowell, who spent 18 months working at the transfer station until he resigned last August, was the latest in a series of people to criticise the machine.

Mr Fromont's brother Stephen has told newspapers that his brother said the machine had been faulty for six months and the company knew.

Manawatu Waste general manager Ray Lambert has said he believes the company can refute the allegations.

The Department of Labour said last night that it had put a prohibition notice on a shredder used to mulch green waste in the Wellington landfill.

Mike Cosman, the department's chief adviser of health and safety, said guarding had been removed from the shredder, allowing access to conveyers, rollers and other dangerous parts.

"The department has issued an improvement notice, requiring that the guarding be redesigned to prevent any future dismantling."