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Home / Bay of Plenty Times

Fine and reparation increased by $34,000 in AFFCO meat hook impaling case

Sandra Conchie
By Sandra Conchie
Multimedia Journalist, Bay of Plenty Times·Bay of Plenty Times·
29 Nov, 2016 06:36 AM2 mins to read

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Cleaner Jason Matahiki suffered a serious workplace injury when a meat hook went through the side of his head while working at the Affco NZ Rangiuru plant. File/Photo
Cleaner Jason Matahiki suffered a serious workplace injury when a meat hook went through the side of his head while working at the Affco NZ Rangiuru plant. File/Photo

Cleaner Jason Matahiki suffered a serious workplace injury when a meat hook went through the side of his head while working at the Affco NZ Rangiuru plant. File/Photo

The fine and reparation imposed on Affco NZ after a worker was impaled by a meat spreader hook at its Rangiuru plant has been increased to $89,000.

Earlier this month WorkSafe New Zealand's lawyer argued before Justice Paul Health that the original $30,000 fine and $25,000 reparation sentence was "manifestly inadequate".

On August 19, 2014, Jason Matahiki, was part of the night-shift cleaning crew in the mutton room, when he was struck in the back of the head by a 30cm-long moving hook.

Mr Matahiki was caught between a disused scanner frame, which should have been removed, and another part of the mutton chain, and the hook came out beneath his eye.

After a judge-alone trial last year, Judge Peter Rollo found Affco guilty of failing to take all practical steps to ensure Mr Matahiki was not harmed at his work site.

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In his written appeal decision, Justice Heath said it was appropriate to set aside the original sentence.

"Given the nature of the emotional harm that has been suffered by Mr Matahiki, I have no doubt that the reparation ordered was inadequate ... I take the view that the reparation order should be no less than $40,000, together with a fine of $49,000.

"Notwithstanding findings that Affco took a responsible approach to its health and safety obligations, the Judge found that the 'foreleg' chain and its associated machines should have been appropriately locked-out. Further, the company failed to monitor appropriately compliance with safety procedures."

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Justice Heath said Judge Rollo erred in assessing Affco's conduct as "low culpability" and he was satisfied a $89,000 total penalty was the appropriate response to this offending.

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Affco fined $70k after hook crushing injury

15 Dec 02:00 AM
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