A Bay of Plenty kiwifruit packhouse is rallying around staff and family members of a worker critically injured while cleaning.

Emergency services were called to the Riverlock packhouse on Waioeka Rd near Ōpōtiki about 12.15pm on Monday, and the injured woman was airlifted to Waikato Hospital in a critical condition.

WorkSafe has confirmed it is investigating, and has noted manufacturing has the largest injury toll of any sector, with accidents involving machinery “a common cause of acute harm”.

Riverlock Group general manager Blair Simm said the woman was seriously injured while doing routine plant cleaning with other staff.

Simms said staff immediately gave first aid to the injured worker, and an ambulance arrived on the scene “very quickly”.

“The emergency services response was excellent … The staff member was transferred to Waikato Hospital, where she is receiving urgent medical attention.

He declined to give details of the worker’s injury or what caused it, “out of respect for the worker and her whānau”.

He said the company had counsellors from Whakatōhea Social & Health Services come to the site immediately, and a kaumatua from a local marae was also on site.

Simm said the area where the injury happened had been isolated and cordoned off.

“Riverlock are working with the relevant authorities, and an investigation by WorkSafe is under way.”

He said about 20 people worked in the packhouse at this time of year.

Some of the staff and whānau of the injured worker from Ōpōtiki were on their way to Waikato Hospital today, he said.

Simm said the injured worker had been a Riverlock employee for several years.

“This is the first serious injury at Riverlock, and that’s why this has been so shocking and impactful for the staff and the worker, and her family.

“Riverlock is focused on supporting the injured staff member, her family and the wider Riverlock team.”

Simm said WorkSafe inspectors were visiting the packhouse today.

Riverlock, a family-owned business, has decades of history in the region.

Its services include orchard management, harvesting and packing, and other grower services.