SafeWork NSW is investigating a log splitting accident in a Lawson work yard which has left a 16-year-old girl with a severed finger and significant injuries to her other fingers, police say.
The incident happened on Monday, June 19. The teenager from Orange was performing log-splitting work with her shearer boyfriend at the Just Ironbark workyard on Livingstone Street, when her hand became caught between the log and the splitter, according to Blue Mountains Police Local Area Command Crime Manager, Detective Chief Inspector Dietmar Almer.
The owner of the site, Tony Wimble, told the Gazette the day after, there was “nothing wrong” with the site’s equipment, citing the incident was a result of “stupidity”.
Chief Inspector Almer said “while operating hydraulic log-splitting machinery, the girl’s hand became caught between a log and the splitter, completely severing her middle finger on her left hand, as well as causing significant injuries to her other fingers”.
“First aid was rendered immediately and the female was transported to Westmead Hospital for treatment. WorkCover [SafeWork NSW] have been advised,” he said.
Owner Tony Wimble said the girl had injured the top of her index finger and was “in good hands at Westmead Hospital and she’s covered by workers compensation”.
“There’s nothing wrong with the log splitter and the position, they [SafeWork NSW] have already been out to check.”
Mr Wimble said he was not on site at the time of the accident. The girl had accompanied her boyfriend to the workplace on Sunday and he had not known of her existence until then.
“He’s a shearer he’s come to work. I gave him a job a few days ago. I didn’t know she was there.” He said it was “stupidity” that led to the accident.
“How can you cover stupidity? It’s like putting your hand on a hot stove.”
It is not clear what sort of compensation she may be entitled to, while investigations continue about the level of impairment. Under workers compensation legislation, weekly payments are available for a maximum of five years. This applies unless a worker has been assessed as having a permanent impairment of more than 20 per cent.
SafeWork NSW investigates work, health and safety incidents in NSW. In a statement a SafeWork NSW spokesman said “initial inquiries indicate a business had been engaged to distribute firewood at the property and the female injured her left hand while using a log splitter, suffering a partial amputation to one finger and crush injuries to another. SafeWork NSW will question all persons related to the incident as part of its ongoing inquiries.”
