A magistrate will next month decide if a business breached workplace laws after a Tallangatta abattoir worker had three fingers sliced off.
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Equipment called hock cutters - similar to a large pair of scissors used to cut off sheep feet - were involved in the incident.
The man said he had been trying to fix a loose handle when his fingers were sliced off.
The man told the Wodonga Magistrate's Court two of his fingers were reattached in hospital, but the third couldn't be found.
Capoden Pty Ltd, trading as Tallangatta Meat Processors, has entered not guilty pleas to two charges.
Prosecutor Susanna Locke alleged the business failed to provide adequate training and supervision, and said the evidence in the three-day hearing indicated the worker had spent only a few minutes completing an induction form, with a brief demonstration, before getting to work.
Another employee said the only way to learn was through "sink or swim" with the dangers of the hock cutters "pretty obvious".
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Ms Locke said the machine had a risk of catastrophic injury.
"The hock cutters are dangerous and they are sharp and they are powerful," she said.
"The risk associated with using that tool was catastrophic injury, as played out in this case."
Defence lawyer Robert Taylor said just because the worker lost his fingers it didn't mean someone must be at fault.
"There are still accidents," he said.
"We say this was an accident, a tragic one, but an accident.
"As the evidence stands, we submit there's no case to answer."
Lengthy submissions and legal arguments were presented by the prosecution and defence during the hearing.
Magistrate Mary-Anne MacCallum said she would consider all the information and hand down her decision on September 13.
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