57 safety incidents at plant in five years

A total of 57 health and safety incidents at the Affco NZ meat works in Wanganui in the past five years is regarded as a good history by the Department of Labour.
The number of incidents was disclosed by the department after the Chronicle lodged a request under the Official Information Act last month.
Maarten Quivooy, workplace services manager for the Department of Labour, said Affco's Imlay plant had a good record in terms of workplace accidents and had been prosecuted once since January 2006.
Affco's workplace safety record came under the spotlight following an accident in May when maintenance worker Tony Healy, 48, had his right arm crushed in a conveyor belt he was working on.
His arm was broken in two places and he required surgery. Occupational Safety and Health representatives.
Mr Quivooy said that in April 2008, Affco NZ pleaded guilty in the Wanganui District Court to a charge under the Health and Safety Act. It was fined $60,000 and ordered to pay $15,000 in reparation.
The prosecution followed an accident at the works in July 2007 which resulted in a worker having his left index finger amputated just below the knuckle.
The worker was loading frozen cartons of meat on to a conveyor belt. He stopped momentarily and rested his left hand on the side of the conveyor belt while it was still running.
His gloved hand was caught in a drive drum, pulling his left index finger into the machinery. The finger was crushed and had to be amputated.
Mr Quivooy said the May accident was currently under investigation by Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) representatives and further details were being withheld because it may be prejudicial to any potential court proceedings.
He said Affco Wanganui had good health and safety systems in place.
Most of the incidents recorded in the past five years were able to be managed though a "limited response" which evaluated the event in terms of the severity of harm suffered by a worker.
"When each incident is reported to the department it is reviewed and responded to, based on the severity of the harm and the existence of any patterns in harm," Mr Quivooy said.
"In the cases where a minor incident is reported that does not constitute serious harm, and is unlikely to pose a significant continuing hazard, an investigation report may not have been completed.
"Instead, an inspector may agree with the employer ... about ways for them to improve safety practices, known as a 'limited response'."
The Chronicle had also asked for outcomes of OSH reports but Mr Quivooy said not all incidents at the works had involved an investigation by the department.
Incidents investigated by the department inspectors included injuries to hands and fingers. In some cases workers had lost tips of fingers, while others required minor surgery for cuts and breaks.
Dave Eastlake, general secretary of the NZ Meat Workers and Related Trades Union, said the union was not aware of any particular health and safety issues at the Imlay plant or any other meat works around the country.
"In those workplaces our members participate in health and safety discussions with the employers on a regular basis and if there is an issue then it is raised at those meetings," he said.
The Chronicle sought comment from Affco and was directed to the company's head office in Hamilton. Several phone calls were made and messages left but they were not returned.