Injury compensation news

Man awarded $60,000 for accident at work

A New Zealand man who lost both legs and half an arm in a waste shredder has been awarded $60,000 in personal injury compensation.

Chris Fromont from New Plymouth suffered serious injuries in the accident at work and was initially awarded $30,000 from his company, Manatwatu Waste, after they admitted liability for February's industrial accident.

At New Plymouth District Court, Judge Louis Bidois fined Manatwatu Waste $10,000 for the work accident and ordered the company to pay a further $30,000 to Mr Fromont in injury compensation.

The court heard that Mr Fromont was allegedly told to climb into the green waste shredder if the machine became blocked, but Manatwatu Waste insisted that staff were trained to turn the machine off before clearing any blockage.

Mr Fromont said that $40,000 was not big enough penalty for the accident at work and claims that he has undergone six operations since losing three of his limbs.