Scott Technology pleads guilty over worker's death at Dunedin plant
Scott Technology has pleaded guilty in the Dunedin District Court to failing to ensure the health and safety of workers, after PLC technician Michael Sherry, 32, was fatally crushed by a meat-processing machine at its Dunedin workshop on 24 April 2025. WorkSafe found the company's process for working on live hazardous machinery had not been initiated, and identified an incorrectly configured hydraulic valve fitted by contractor Scarlett Hydraulics a week earlier as a major factor, which the summary of facts said Scott Technology was unaware of and could not control. Sentencing is set for January 2027, with a maximum fine of USD 0.9m (NZD 1.5m).
Why this mattersA guilty plea on live-machinery isolation sharpens regulatory scrutiny of machine-safety practice at processing and packaging equipment builders.
- Michael Sherry, 32, a PLC technician, died on 24 April 2025 at Scott Technology's Dunedin workshop
- Scott Technology pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the health and safety of workers, exposing them to the risk of death or serious injury
- The maximum penalty is a fine of up to USD 0.9m (NZD 1.5m), with sentencing set for January 2027
- WorkSafe found the company's process for working on live hazardous machinery was not initiated at the time of the incident
- An incorrectly configured valve installed by Scarlett Hydraulics on 17 April 2025 was described as a major factor; the summary of facts states Scott Technology was unaware of it and had no ability to control it
- WorkSafe considered it reasonably practicable to have relocated the machine's electrical cabinet away from the crush zone