Some measures were not mandatory but if an injury occurred and the employer failed to provide safety gear as suggested, the company was then liable for failing to "take reasonable steps to provide a safe workplace". "They are putting small businesses like mine in with places that employ 100 people and have fulltime HR staff. It's just not realistic."
His company had operated for 20 years without incident - until May, he said. It was issued a prohibition notice and had to enter into two negotiated agreements with the ministry after the accident.
"Accidents happen. It's unrealistic to think they don't."
At Volare restaurant in January last year, a man's arm became stuck in a pasta machine. As the man lifted the lid to check the mix, his left arm became caught around the mixing rod and he suffered several fractures, soft tissue damage and tendon and nerve damage. The machine's interlock switch was broken, meaning it did not automatically stop when the lid was opened.
Allegro, which owns Volare, was prosecuted and fined $20,000 and ordered to pay reparations of $6000.
The ministry investigated 60 incidents in the Western Bay this year compared to 95 cases in 2012 and 126 in 2011.
North Island Mussel Processors was at the centre of four health and safety incidents the ministry had investigated since 2011. The company went into receivership last year.