Mechanic seriously hurt fixing rubbish truck

Police officers speak to Waste Management staff after a man's arm was injured by the hydraulic arm on one of the company's trucks in Mosgiel yesterday. Photo / Craig Baxter

A mechanic was taken to hospital with serious injuries after being caught in the hydraulic arm of a rubbish truck.

The man was working on a Waste Management truck in Montrose St, Mosgiel, just before 8.30am yesterday when the accident happened, police said.

"The truck's arm has caught the mechanic's arm," a spokeswoman said.

WorkSafe New Zealand has been notified.

A St John spokesman said the man, aged in his 40s, was taken to Dunedin Hospital with serious injuries.

Waste Management South Island general manager Gareth James said the company would investigate and was assisting police and WorkSafe.

"A mechanic was injured when working on one of our collection vehicles this morning in Dunedin," he said.

"The person injured was a contracted mechanic.

"We have no further details at this point."

Waste Management would not comment on the man's condition.

"We will not provide any further personal details."

"We will also work with police and WorkSafe, who attended on site."