Forestry worker's foot crushed by excavator

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A forestry worker is in a serious condition after an excavator crushed his foot yesterday.

The incident happened about 10.15am in a forestry area near Rotoiti, east of Rotorua.

The Taupo-based Youthtown Trust Rescue Helicopter was called to airlift a 23-year-old man to Waikato Hospital.

Helicopter pilot Todd Dunham said a logging worker had his foot crushed by the steel tracks of an excavator.

A St John Ambulance communications team leader told The Daily Post a male forestry worker was taken to Waikato Hospital after being involved in a "collision" with a digger.

He said the man had suffered serious leg injuries and was stabilised at the scene by St John paramedics before being flown to hospital.

Police were also called to the incident.

Yesterday afternoon, a Waikato Hospital spokeswoman said the man was in a stable condition in a ward at the hospital.

A Department of Labour spokeswoman said the department's investigators had been notified of the incident.

"We have sent someone out to the scene and they are conducting preliminary investigations."

If an investigation is launched by the Department of Labour it could take up to six months to determine the cause of the incident.

She said the findings from an investigation could provide information and advice to help firms to improve workplace safety practices.

She said the findings could also use enforcement tools which ranged from a formal requirement to improve workplace processes and practices, through to prosecution under the Health and Safety in Employment Act.

Last year 41 workplace deaths nationwide were investigated by the Department of Labour.

So far this year seven people have died in the workplace in New Zealand.

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