KEY POINTS:
The Department of Labour announced today that charges had been laid over an accident in which a worker lost his legs when he fell into an automatic baler press.
Ben Hekenui's legs were severed below the knee when he became trapped in a baling machine at a Taranaki recycling plant on April 22.
The 36-year-old fell down a chute and into the cardboard compacting machine and was caught by the rammer at the bottom.
The department said today two charges had been laid in New Plymouth District Court against the plant's owners LGC Limited, trading as Taranaki Recyclers,
They were failing to take all practicable steps to ensure the safety of an employee, and failing to ensure there were effective methods in place for the systematic identification of existing hazards.
Each charge carries a maximum penalty of $250,000.
No date has yet been set for hearing the case.
- NZPA
