A fruit and vegetable processing company has been fined almost $200,000 after workplace accidents in which three staff members lost their fingers.
A belt slicer in action Photo: YouTube
Prepared Produce Limited was fined for six offences and ordered to pay $57,000 in reparation to the victims.
In the first incident, in July 2013, a worker had his right middle finger and the tip of another finger cut off.
The other two incidents occurred in November 2014.
A worker had to have three fingers partially amputated and an employee had two fingers cut off.
A Manukau District Court judge found an inadequately guarded belt slicer posed an obvious risk to employees, and action should have been taken after the first incident.
