Unsecure steel load seriously injures truck driver

The truck and its load involved in today's accident at Perry's Metal. The steel bars which injured the driver can be seen on the back of the truck. Photo / Belinda Feek

A 50-year-old truck driver crushed by metal beams while unloading his vehicle at a Hamilton factory today is in a serious but stable condition at Waikato Hospital.

Emergency services were called to Perry's Metal Protection on Manchester St in Hamilton at 1.55pm and St John transported the man to hospital at 2.35pm.

Worksafe NZ is investigating the incident.

Factory staff told the Herald a load of steel was being removed from the truck when it became loose and fell, piercing the man's arm, leg and torso.

Perry's Metal manager Duane Baguley said he was working with Worksafe and the truck driver's employer, Les Harrison Transport.

He said nothing like this had happened at the factory before.

"We don't want to have anyone - whether it's our staff or anyone coming on to our site - having any chance of being hurt."

Mr Baguley said workers who saw the incident were being interviewed to figure out how it had occurred.

Prime Minister John Key opened Perry's Metal Protection's new galvanising facility in Hamilton in 2013.

It is the largest galvanising facility in New Zealand, with the capacity of dipping items up to 18 metres long, enabling the company to offer increased capability along with the capacity to meet their customer's current and future demands.