An Oamaru meat processor has been fined and ordered to pay reparations after an employee's hand was crushed between unguarded fixed rollers on a conveyor belt.
The Oamaru District Court has fined Lean Meats Oamaru $47,000 and ordered the company to pay $10,500 to the worker.
The worker's hand became trapped in the rollers as she tried to mop up excess water from the coveyor while packing cuts of meat.
Labour Department spokesperson Francois Barton says the unguarded machinery was extremely dangerous and an accident waiting to happen.
The department has a three-year project under way to reduce the number of accidents involving inadequately guarded machinery.
