A man's hand was severed in an accident at a meat processing plant in Timaru on Friday.
The accident happened at the Alliance Smithfield plant.
Meatworkers Union Canterbury branch secretary Bill Watt said it appeared the man was caught in an auger in the rendering department.
Mr Watt said he understood the man had been in the job for less than a week.
He said Alliance and WorkSafe were investigating.
The man was now out of hospital.
