Company got off too lightly, says shredder victim

A FORMER Wanganui man who lost his legs and an arm in a shredder is gutted the company concerned was only fined $10,000 ? despite the machine he was injured in being labelled "a disaster waiting to happen".
Chris Fromont received horrific injuries when he was dragged into the cutting discs of Manawatu Waste Ltd's green waste shredder in New Plymouth earlier this year.
The Department of Labour yesterday fined Manawatu Waste $10,000 and ordered it to pay Mr Fromont $30,000 reparation for failing to take all practicable steps to ensure Mr Fromont wasn't exposed to hazards.
Manawatu Waste is 50 percent owned by Wanganui's Cashmore Contracting.
The Department of Labour found the shredder was not adequately guarded and there were no documented standard operating procedures for the shredder.
Workplace services manager for Taranaki Brett Murray described the machine as a "disaster waiting to happen".
Mr Fromont said he was relieved the company pleaded guilty but was disappointed by two aspects of the case.
"I would have preferred a stronger message sent out in terms of the fine, as I don't think $10,000 was enough of a disincentive. I'm also upset that the company were reluctant to take responsibility for what had happened, as it looks as though they have been quick to try to blame me for what happened, as they suggest the accident occurred because of a one-off "unsafe practice"," he said.
Since the accident he has had three goals. To get well, to make sure the same thing doesn't happen to anyone else, and to get on with his life.
"While it's too late for me, hopefully speaking out now will help make people more aware and hopefully help prevent future accidents.
"It has been a long process, and while it is good to get some closure through the court case today, certain aspects of the report did concern me."
Mr Fromont said what he did find difficult to accept was that the company had known about operational problems with the machine since 2002 and had chosen to ignore them.
"Everyone knew the machine was stuffed and they didn't do anything about it. The fact that they were aware of the problem even before I started with them is hard to accept, especially as they were reluctant to repair the machine." It was while attempting to clear a blockage on February 22 Mr Fromont got caught in the rotating cutting discs, and was dragged into them.
"While there were a number of methods which could be used for removing a blockage from the cutting discs, Mr Fromont thought that the only way to unblock a jam was to get into the hopper of the shredder while the cutting discs were going and try and move the blockage with his feet, which was clearly not a safe practice," Mr Murray said.
"He advised the department that he would climb into the hopper of the shredder while the cutting discs were operating 'about every second time' he used it.
"With the best of intentions, Mr Fromont appears to have adopted this extremely dangerous work method by default, as he could see no other way of unjamming the cutting discs.
"There were no documented guidelines or procedures for clearing blockages, which should have been a given for this type of operation."
The Department of Labour found Manawatu Waste Ltd identified issues with the guarding of the shredder as far back as 2004 and made recommendations to address them, but none were put in place at the time of the accident.
Mr Fromont said he was as well as could be expected and was looking forward to summer and getting outdoors more.
"I'm slowly adjusting to life in a wheelchair and the support from my wife Anne, family members, medical staff and the general public has been fantastic."
"I can't turn the clock back, so I'm determined to get on with life and get on with the future. I'm planning to be independent and live a normal lifestyle," he said.
Mr Fromont's brother, Stephen Fromont, told the Wanganui Chronicle the family was looking at its legal options.
"It seems that $10,000 is an appropriate fine for the loss of two legs and an arm? it's pretty disappointing."
He said the court case was supposed to bring closure but hadn't.
The Fromonts were "born and bred" Wanganui people and had received a lot of support from Wanganui since the accident. "They have been great. We still consider ourselves Wanganui people," he said.
Cashmore Contracting director Colin Cashmore, a director of Manawatu Waste Ltd, said Manawatu Waste had pleaded guilty to the charge and he had nothing to add.
"I think it would be insensitive to say anything more; everything got said in court."