A Motueka firewood firm has been ordered to pay more than $60,000 in fines and compensation to a worker who lost most of his hand and the skin on his arm in an accident earlier this year.
Firewood Direct has been fined $25,000 and ordered to pay reparation of $40,000 to the man, who was injured by a log-splitter ram.
WorkSafe New Zealand chief inspector Keith Stewart said the man accidentally activated the ram while trying to clear a small piece of wood he thought was affecting the machine.
Appropriate guards were not in place, he said.
The man, who also received several broken ribs, had to wait without pain relief or medical care for 40 minutes before emergency services arrived, Mr Stewart said.
The company admitted the charges under the Health and Safety in Employment Act.
