Wood processor Juken tops 20 convictions for injuries, fined $365,000

Thursday, 28 February 2019

North Island wood processing company Juken NZ has landed up in court again and fined $365,000 and ordered to pay reparation of $60,000 after a worker was badly burnt.

The company already has 20 previous health and safety convictions over the past two decades.

Juken NZ was sentenced in the Kaitaia District Court, following an incident which saw a worker suffer serious steam burns.

In July 2017 a worker was replacing a heat probe inside of an enclosed Triboard manufacturing press, when the press was switched on, engulfing him in hot steam.

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As a result of the incident, the worker suffered third-degree burns to his hands and wrists, superficial burns to his face and inhalation burns to his throat, lungs and stomach.

It remains unclear whether he will regain full function of his hands.

A WorkSafe investigation found Juken had inadequate health and safety systems in place, failed to provide appropriate controls to ensure the press was prevented from start-up while work was being carried out inside of it, and failed to provide information, training and instructions to protect workers from risks associated with the press.

Head of WorkSafe's specialist interventions, Simon Humphries, said despite having 20 previous health and safety convictions, Juken NZ has still fallen below the standard of health and safety.

'This company should have learnt from its previous history, but instead another worker has suffered from life changing injuries.

'If you have dangerous areas in your workplace from which workers should be excluded, now is the time to put systems in place to ensure they cannot be put in harm's way. 

'Ensure that the area is clearly labelled as dangerous, that access is restricted and that your workers are advised on appropriate procedures when access is required.'

The company was sentenced under sections 36(1)(a), 48(1) and (2)(c) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.

It failed to ensure, so far as was reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers, while the workers were at work in the business or undertaking while working in the upper level of the enclosed press, and failed to comply, exposing workers to a risk of serious injury or death.

Juken NZ issued a statement expressing sorrow. 

'Juken was extremely concerned that this accident occurred.  It has taken a significant toll on the injured worker and his family and on the staff who looked after him until emergency services arrived on the day the accident occurred.  

'This accident was avoidable and we acknowledge that Juken failed as an employer to have the appropriate safety measures in place to prevent this. We have apologised to him and his family that this occurred.

'We have supported  the recovery and rehabilitation of our staff member who was injured and he remains in his role.  

'We cooperated fully with Worksafe during its investigation and have put in place additional safety measures to prevent this type of accident occurring in the future.  

'Improving health and safety at the Triboard Mill in Kaitaia is a major part of the refurbishment plan we announced for the mill last year.

'In addition, we have taken extensive measures to improve workplace safety across all of JNL and are committed to continuous improvement of health and safety.'