Meat processor Riverlands Eltham has been fined $42,500 and ordered to pay $12,500 to a staff member after he lost the end of his finger at work.
WorkSafe New Zealand, which brought the prosecution, said the company was sentenced in New Plymouth District Court today after being convicted last month of failing to take all practicable steps to ensure the safety of the employee while at work.
The employee had his finger caught in a conveyor while he was collecting blood from slaughtered animals.
Judge Max Courtney found the company did not take all practicable steps to protect him by ensuring the machine was guarded, that it had a start warning system and that it had an emergency stop button in an accessible position.
WorkSafe New Zealand's chief inspector investigations Keith Stewart said the a worker had been unnecessarily injured.