A Napier contractor has been ordered to pay $60,000 after a logging accident resulted in one of its employees having to have part of his leg amputated.

A1 Contractors Limited was prosecuted by the Department of Labour after a log fell on an employee's leg at a work site on a property in Patoka, 45km northwest of Napier, in March last year.

The Company was ordered in the Napier District Court to pay a $30,000 fine and $30,000 in reparations to the injured employee for failing to ensure the safety of its employees.

Counties Manukau Automotive Diesel Repairs was yesterday charged with failing to take all practicable steps to ensure another person was not harmed.

A Department of Labour investigation found the employee who worked on the vehicle had no formal motor mechanic qualifications and had not tightened the wheel nuts properly after fixing the guard.

The workshop must pay $60,000 in reparation for emotional harm, and $8500 to the victim's family for other costs related to airfares and funeral arrangements. It was also fined $5000.

Good news for the families in these situations. At least ACC cannot touch the extra payments for reparations & emotional harm that have been ordered by the courts.