Tradesman loses two fingers, three days in

Photo / Paul Taylor

A timber worker lost two fingers and the tip of his thumb on just his third day on the job.

The worker was employed at New Zealand Timber Ltd and was operating a rise and fall saw when sawdust flicked off the blade into his eye.

When wiping his eye, the man mistakenly put his right hand on the "saw bed" over the "blade shot" and as he leant forward, he accidentally hit the knee-activated switch, a statement from WorkSafe NZ says. The saw blade cut through his right hand.

As a result the man has required several rounds of surgery to re-attach his index finger and forefinger. He lost his ring finger, little finger and the end of his thumb and still requires medical treatment.

In the Hamilton District Court yesterday, NZ Timber Ltd was fined $51,000 and ordered to pay $38,000 reparation. The company was prosecuted under the Health and Safety in Employment Act for for failing to take all practicable steps to ensure an employee was safe.

WorkSafe's investigation identified several health and safety breaches.

"As a start, New Zealand Timber Limited should have ensured that employees wore the correct safety gear," said Keith Stewart, WorkSafe's chief inspector.

"At the time of the incident the employee was wearing sunglasses."

The company should have ensured the saw had an effective tunnel guard so that no-one could come into contact with the blade.

"The knee-knock activation switch should also have been removed and either a shrouded foot-pedal or two-handed operation installed on the saw," Mr Stewart said.

"The Department of Labour had as early as 2005 identified that the knee-knock activation be replaced and industry was advised by guidance to do as such.

"If you guard your machines, you guard your people. It's that simple"

- NZME