New Zealand tuna fishing company Sanford and fish processing company Pelco have each been fined and ordered to pay a total of NZD 10,000 (USD 8,400) in damages after pleading guilty to charges following a serious hand injury to a Pelco employee working on board a Sanford vessel in December 2011.
The 22-year-old female employee sustained serious injuries to her hand while unloading tuna from the Ocean Breeze at Mt Maunganui Wharf in December 2011.
The New Zealand government prosecuted both companies under the HSE Act 1992 for failing to take all practical steps to ensure the safety of people working on the job.
In court yesterday, Sanford was fined NZD 32,500 (USD 27,400) and ordered to pay NZD 5,000 in reparation to the victim, and Pelco was fined NZD 22,500 (USD 18,950) and also ordered to pay reparation of NZD 5,000.
The government said the prosecution highlighted the importance of ensuring workplace safety on ships.