WorkSafe shuts down Riverlock kiwifruit conveyor after worker injured in Ōpōtiki

Rivelock has been issued a prohibition notice to make safety improvements to a conveyor system at its packhouse near Ōpōtiki after a worker was critically injured.

WorkSafe New Zealand has taken enforcement action against a Bay of Plenty kiwifruit packhouse company after one of its employees was critically injured on a kiwifruit conveyor system.

Emergency services were called to the Riverlock packhouse on Waioeka Rd near Ōpōtiki about 12.15pm on November 24, and the injured female worker was flown to Waikato Hospital in a critical condition.

At the time, Riverlock Group general manager Blair Simm said the worker was injured while undertaking routine plant cleaning with other staff.

A WorkSafe New Zealand spokesperson said following the critical incident last week, WorkSafe inspectors visited the packhouse on November 28 and took enforcement action that day.

“We have issued a prohibition notice, which prevents the use of the packhouse’s conveyor system this worker was injured on until WorkSafe is satisfied that improvements have been made.”

WorkSafe’s spokesperson said that the conveyor system was used for kiwifruit processing, and it was being cleaned while partially operational at the time of the incident.

“The notice was issued on November 28, as WorkSafe completed its scene examination, alongside a machine guarding expert.

“It requires Riverlock to engage an expert to assess the conveyor system and then implement any machine guarding improvements required.”

The WorkSafe spokesperson said inspectors would return to the packhouse in coming weeks to confirm the prohibition notice had been complied with.

“At this stage, WorkSafe does not hold further details on the worker’s critical injuries.”

WorkSafe earlier said it noted manufacturing had the largest injury toll of any sector, with accidents involving machinery “a common cause of acute harm”.

Simms earlier told the Bay of Plenty Times that staff immediately gave first aid to the injured worker, and an ambulance arrived on the scene “very quickly”.

The company had counsellors from Whakatōhea Social and Health Services come to the site immediately, and a kaumatua from a local marae was also on site.

Simm said the injured worker had been a Riverlock employee for several years, and this was the first serious injury at Riverlock, which made what happened “more shocking and impactful”.

He said the injured worker had been discharged from Waikato Hospital and was now back home with her family, which was the “best outcome” anyone could have even anticipated.

Simm said “everyone was elated”, including her whānau, Riverlock’s management and its wider team.

He said Riverlock had engaged an engineer to undertake what was required of the company under the prohibition notice.

“We anticipate completing what is needed in the coming months,” he said.

Riverlock is a family-owned business with decades of history in the Bay of Plenty region.

Its services include orchard management, harvesting, packing and other grower services.

Sandra Conchie is a senior journalist at the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post who has been a journalist for 25 years. She mainly covers police, court and other justice stories, as well as general news. She has been a Canon Media Awards regional/community reporter of the year.