3 News can reveal meat processor Affco is being prosecuted after a worker was impaled by a meat hook.
Affco's owner Talley's has objected to parts of the Government's proposed health and safety reforms.
If the WorkSafe prosecution succeeds, the company could face a hefty fine.
It's hard for Affco worker Jason Matahiki's wife Dawn to tell her husband's story, and Jason won't appear on camera since his horrific workplace accident.
She describes how he was impaled from behind by a 10cm meat hook used to hold animal carcasses, hooking him near his ear, coming out under his eye, then dragged by the chains on the conveyor belt.
The Government's work place safety watchdog is prosecuting Affco - owned by Talley's and the recently knighted Sir Peter Talley.
WorkSafe believes it failed to take all steps to ensure the safety of an employee.
3 News put specific questions about this to Talley's, which it didn't respond to.
Mr Matahiki was working at Affco's Rangiuru freezing works, but is not anymore - it laid him off two weeks ago for the end of season.
Earlier this week 3 News revealed the stories of Talley's workers David Brine and Alister Doran - one, exposed to toxic chemicals, the other suffering permanent damage after lacerating his arm.
Along with Mr Matahiki, they all happened after Talley's lobbied the Government to weaken safety reforms.
The health and safety reforms have been stalled and 3 News has been leaked the bill that was supposed to be passed into law.
Many of the clauses Talley's didn't like had already been removed.
The chief concern raised in its submission was about giving workers the right to elect health and safety representatives, but that looks set to stay.
Watch the video for the full report.
source: newshub archive
