X-ray machine crushed worker's arm, hospital fined

A firefighter carries cutting equipment into Dunedin Hospital after a man was stuck in an X-ray machine in 2017. Photo / Stephen Jaquiery

A man's arm was nearly severed at Dunedin Hospital when he was crushed by an x-ray machine.

More than $500,000 in fines and reparations have been imposed on the Southern District Health Board and a contractor after the incident in May 2017.

His orthopaedic surgeon described his injuries as ''a permanent disability'', and the victim said his mental and physical recovery would be long.

Southern District Health Board chief executive Chris Fleming has apologised for not meeting the man on the day of the incident.

The victim - a registered builder with name suppression - was tasked with the removal and demolition of a 30-year-old X-ray machine.

While removing the machine, a company engineer asked the victim to cut a wire rope.

When he did, a spring-loaded metal plate crushed his forearm, breaking two bones and causing extensive nerve, tendon and muscle damage.

The injuries required hours of surgery on the day, and more later in the year.

Fleming said yesterday he had apologised for his failure to meet the victim at hospital on the day of the incident.

''And it was actually as a consequence of a victim discussing the issues I realised how wrong that was for me as chief executive.

''A contractor had been seriously injured and I have personally apologised because I need to care, as chief executive, for everybody within our organisation, and we need to make sure everyone that is involved with us goes home safe.

''I should have personally shown some more direct remorse at the time.''

Fleming said the board had immediately changed its processes when installing or removing specialist equipment to ensure specialists were employed for the work.

The level of the fine would also be a challenge for the cash-strapped organisation.

''That will have to come out of the DHB resources,'' he said.

''That's taxing to both myself, in terms of how to find it and the impact it will have, but it is really important to send a message that organisations like ours need to take this sort of thing very seriously, and indeed we do.

''We are not changing any services, we're just going to have to make it work.''

When questioned about any health and safety reports written after the incident, Fleming acknowledged a draft report had been reviewed because of disagreement over its findings.

''There was a draft report with some findings we didn't agree with, and that report was reviewed.''

It is the first time a Crown entity has been prosecuted for a workplace accident since changes to the Crown Organisations (Criminal Liability) Act 2002, which made public sector agencies subject to the same fines as any other business under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.

-Additionally reported by David Loughrey