Biscuit oven burns victim awarded 45K

The judge referred to the case as bad offending that resulted in a "mutilating injury". Photo / Thinkstock

A worker who was had their arm trapped in a biscuit oven for 40 minutes at temperatures hotter than 85C has been awarded $45,000 compensation.

The employee of Meycov Food Limited, trading as Rutherford & Meyer, was cleaning a biscuit machine during a cooling down period when her overall got caught.

This caused her arm to become trapped between a baking plate and part of the machine's framework.

The employee's arm was caught in the machine for 40 minutes before it was eventually dismantled, where temperatures reached a minimum of 85C and a maximum of 180C.

She sustained severe burns, significant skin loss and subsequent muscle loss.

The victim has undergone three surgeries to remove dead tissue and muscle, as well as major skin-grafting work. She has further surgeries scheduled to transplant muscle to strength her arm.

The Wellington gourmet biscuit and condiment manufacturer was sentenced at Wellington District Court for failing to take all practicable steps to ensure the safety of an employee.

As well as paying the employee $45,000 in reparations it was also ordered to pay a $12,500 fine.

The judge referred to the case as "bad offending" that resulted in a "mutilating injury".

A WorkSafe New Zealand investigation found there were no written procedures for cleaning the machine, and that the guards on the machine were left open during production and cleaning.

The keys to the guard were also left in the machine instead of only being accessible to authorised staff.

The manufacturer's guard which came with the machine, was also removed in order to enable easier cleaning, said WorkSafe New Zealand's chief inspector, Keith Stewart.

"Had the guard been in place, then the victim's hand would not have been caught and ultimately burnt.

"Any cleaning should have been done with the baking plate cool and the machine locked out."

Meycov Food Limited told NZME. they would not respond before consulting with a lawyer.