But he couldn\u2019t reach the drive motor. He stood on the edge of a hopper while another worker gained access using a ladder propped against the hopper on the opposite side of the platform. <\/p>\n
After the repair was completed, they saw that dust and debris had fallen into the hopper. <\/p>\n
As the man\u2019s lower body lay across the edge of the hopper, with his legs sticking out across the platform, he leaned over and cleaned it.<\/p>\n
At the same time, another worker turned the machine on.<\/p>\n
His thumb, index and middle fingers were drawn in and crushed in the machine. <\/p>\n
A diagram of the machine shows a pair of counterrotating, triangular-shaped rotors located at the base of the hopper (3), in which the victim’s hand was caught. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n
One of several people who witnessed the incident claimed staff had questioned the man\u2019s competency with management before the incident, but nothing was done. <\/p>\n
The person, who asked not to be named, told NZME they had worked alongside the victim for several months.<\/p>\n
They had raised concerns with bosses in the months leading up to the incident and said the commercial bakery, which employs about 150 people, needed proper induction and training for technical staff. <\/p>\n
But new employees were often put straight on the factory floor with little training, they said. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe bakery needs to look after them and give staff proper training.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe [the victim] was out of his depth; he didn\u2019t know what he was doing; they knew he wasn\u2019t up to standard.\u201d<\/p>\n
WorkSafe recently prosecuted the company in the Christchurch District Court for the incident.<\/p>\n
It was fined $200,000 and ordered to pay $45,500 to the victim, who has permanent name suppression. <\/p>\n
In a written statement, the victim said the incident had shattered his livelihood and destabilised his family\u2019s future.<\/p>\n
He said he had been left with permanent emotional and physical wounds. <\/p>\n
Bakery owner apologises<\/p>\n
French Bakery owner Gary Barber declined NZME\u2019s request for an interview but provided a written statement, in which he acknowledged the court\u2019s ruling. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe sincerely regret the injuries suffered and have taken significant steps to ensure that no other employee is injured in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n
The stocking hopper, in red, and add-on platform, in blue, where the incident occurred. The machine’s drive motor, circled, which shows it cannot be easily accessed from the add-on platform. Photo \/ Supplied <\/p>\n
A WorkSafe spokesperson said the victim\u2019s life-changing injuries had exposed fundamental safety failures.<\/p>\n
They said WorkSafe had identified repeated machinery safety and process-safety risks across multiple projects and routine assessments at the bakery throughout the years. <\/p>\n
Inspectors had consistently assessed the level of harm, the likelihood of it recurring, and the attitude and capability of the business, the spokesperson said. <\/p>\n
\u201cEnforcement steps have been taken only where they were necessary to manage risk and support compliance.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn line with the enforcement decision\u2011making model, improvement notices were issued when there was a clear gap between what the law requires and what was happening on site.<\/p>\n
\u201cInspectors escalated their response when required, and the company was provided with best practice guidance to reinforce expectations around machinery safety.\u201d<\/p>\n
A history of health and safety issues<\/p>\n