Winstone Pulp fined $29,000 for unguarded saw

Tangiwai-based, Winstone Pulp International, has been ordered to pay a fine of $29,000 for a hazardous snip saw that had been used unsafely for more than seven years.

The Court heard that following an accident the saw was inspected by a Labour Group Health and Safety Inspector who observed that the was no effective guard on the saw - contrary to the general guidance about guarding provided by Ministry.

Labour Group General Manager, John Howard, said: “Unguarded machinery is extremely dangerous and an accident waiting to happen. The general guidance around guarding machinery is long-standing, well-understood and easily available from the Labour Group website.

“There is also specific guidance around the required level of guarding for these types of saws.

“When you consider the time that this machine has been operational and unguarded together with the easy availability of clear guidance, then there is no excuse whatsoever for this company to be operating such an inherently dangerous piece of machinery.”
   
“All too often employees are seriously injured at work, when it is their fundamental right to go home safe at the end of their working day.”

MBIE-Labour has a three-year project under way to reduce the number of serious harm and fatal accidents resulting from the unsafe use of machinery.