A Motueka firewood company has been ordered to pay more than $65 thousand dollars, after one of its workers suffered horrific injuries when his hand was struck by a log-splitter ram.

In February this year, the Firewood Direct worker was using his hand to try and clear a small piece of wood, that he thought was affecting the operation of the firewood processing machine.

As he reached into the machine from the control booth he accidentally hit the auto-split button with his leg or knee – activating the ram, while his hand was in the log splitting chamber.

The victim suffered substantial injuries.

His hand was crushed, leading to the removal of three fingers and part of his hand.

His forearm was degloved, he fractured one of the bones in his forearm, and broke several ribs.

It took 40 minutes for emergency services to arrive, and provided the man with pain relief and medical care.

Firewood Direct Motueka was sentenced today in the Nelson District Court, after pleading guilty to one charge of failing to take all practicable steps to ensure an employee was kept safe at work.

WorkSafe New Zealand’s Chief Inspector Keith Stewart said the firewood machine did not have appropriate guards in place to stop workers accessing moving parts while it was in operation.

The company has been fined $25 thousand dollars and ordered to pay reparation of $40 thousand - plus more than $800 dollars in lost earnings.