Plastics firm fined $200

Press, 3 November 1984, Page 4

Plastics firm fined $200

A workman employed in a Christchurch plastics factory lost two fingers when his right hand was caught in an inadequately guarded plastic injection moulding machine, the District Court heard yesterday. The company, Pacific Plastics, Ltd, was convicted and fined $2OO by Judge Paterson on a charge of failing to fence securely a dangerous part of the machine.

A plea of guilty was entered by counsel for the company (Mr P. J. Egden). Mr A. M. Mclntosh appeared for the Labour Department. He said the injection moulding machine had been fitted with a manufacturer's guard which prevented access to a trapping point between the tool and die.

At some stage a sheetmetal panel and perspex windows were removed, and on May 15, an employee Barry Creighton, aged 21, lost two fingers of the right hand when working the machine.

The accident occurred when he put his hand through the guard to remove a jammed work piece. He was off work for three months because of the injury. Mr Egden said the sheetmetal panel of the machine had been removed for modifications to be made to it, and the windows had been removed for cleaning. The safety device was still working. •

All employees were fully aware that the panels were removed, and knew how to activate the safety device. Mr Egden said the accident occurred when Mr Creighton was removing a moulding from the machine. It appeared he had been distracted by a workmate, and failed to activate the safety device. Mr Egden said the company regretted the accident The machine was now fully guarded. The company had an excellent safety record up to the time of the accident.