Cottonsoft sentenced after identifying and then ignoring substandard machine guarding

Monday, 11 February 2019

Cottonsoft has been penalised $360,000 for injuring a worker. (File photo)

Toilet paper manufacturer Cottonsoft has been ordered to pay $360,000 in fines and reparations after a worker was hurt in its East Tamaki factory.

The worker sustained crush injuries, degloving and lacerations when his arms were caught in rollers in January 2017.

Cottonsoft was sentenced in the Manukau District Court on Monday after pleading guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act.

The company was ordered to pay $45,000 in reparations to the worker and was also fined $315,000.

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Cottonsoft says it is disappointed to have failed to prevent an injury to one of its workers.

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Simon Humphries, head of Worksafe's specialist interventions, said an investigation into the incident found that the guarding on the machinery departed significantly from current industry standards.

While the risks had been identified during previous risk assessments, no long-term or interim measures had been put in place.

'This worker was needlessly injured by a risk that had been identified but not mitigated effectively,' Humphries said.

'There is so much information and guidance available to companies and it must be implemented. Now is the time to stop and assess your machinery and stop an accident before it occurs. Do this before you find yourself with an injured worker and under the scrutiny of an investigation.'

A Cottonsoft spokesman said safety was the company's top priority.

'We are very disappointed that we have failed to prevent an injury to one of our team members, and have made substantial investments in our people, plant and processes to ensure that this will not happen again,' said.