Safety Alert and EU commitments

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Date of Incident: 03/12/2019 Time of Incident: 8:30 AM
Region
Auckland Business Unit: HSNZ
Event Type:
Serious Injury - Amputation Incident Number: -
Actual Consequence:
Significant Potential
Consequence:
Catastrophic
Incident Short Description:
Leg entrapment and partial amputation in a Komatsu Hoe Rotor.
Incident Summary:

After completing a stabilising run of approximately 180 meters, the operator returned the Hoe to the park-up area.
Once in the park-up area, the operator raised the rotor and hood and, with the rotor and hood elevated, approached the
powered turning rotor and kicked at some dirt on the lower skid to clear debris from the skid.

His foot missed the skid and was caught by the turning rotor causing his leg to become trapped in the rotor and
amputated at the knee.

Incident Photos:

Void worker’s foot and leg entered. Skid

The picture shows the rotor in the raised position approximately
150mm off the ground. The opening created by the raised rotor
drive mechanism is there to allow the rotor drive to enter the
exposed space and penetrate the ground below the level of the
skid.

Komatsu GS 360 Stabilizer

Safety Alert
RELEASED UNDER THE OFFICIAL INFORMATION ACT 1982
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