Auckland insulation company Expol Ltd has been fined $240,000 following a 2016 incident where a worker was injured by a high-density block of polystyrene falling on him.
In July 2016 the worker was moving two 130kg blocks of polystyrene onto a trolley when its locking clamp released and one of the blocks fell on top of him.
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The injured man was out of work for six months with spinal fractures, rib and ankle fractures.
WorkSafe's Head of Specialist Interventions Simon Humphries said the injuries could have been avoided if proper measures had been in place.
"Expecting workers to move large and heavy items without the right equipment or systems in place is not good health and safety management," he said.
Expol were also ordered to pay $40,000 in reparations, and put safety measures in place following the incident.
The company have since developed a new procedure for taking blocks off the conveyor, as well as upskilling their workers and installing safety barriers.
"It should not take an incident like this for employees to pick up their game," said Mr Humphries.
Newshub.
