Recover at Work | Charlie's story

If you get injured, ANZCO Foods is committed to helping you recover from your injury, whether you’ve had an injury at work, at home, or playing sport.

Charlie's Recover at Work story

Charlie Smith of ANZCO Foods Eltham was working on the slaughter floor when he cut his left forearm. Initially, he thought the injury didn’t look too major, so he tried to brush it off, but when it kept bleeding and he noticed his fingers stopped moving, he found a supervisor for help. They visited the site nurse who noticed he was a bit pale and wasn’t speaking too well, so they called an ambulance.

He was taken to Hawera, where the doctors ran some tests, and saw he was developing a haematoma (a big bruise) all the way down his arm, so they sent him to New Plymouth hospital for more treatment. 

It turns out even though the injury site was only a couple of centimetres long, he’d actually cut a tendon and one of the main arteries in his arm. He had two surgeries in three days, where they cleaned out the haematoma and stitched up the damage in his arm. These surgeries left him with a scar going from his palm to his elbow.

Charlie's arm still hasn't returned to normal after a few months of working with a physio. It's impacted his day-to-day life - for a long time he wasn’t able to drive, tend to his vege garden, or come in to work. His mental health took a bit of a hit as well because it didn’t feel like he could just be normal. 

As his arm recovers he's been able to come in to work to join health and safety representative meetings and help the health and safety team with audits and admin as part of his Recover at Work plan.

Overall, while he wouldn’t wish his experience on anybody, it’s been a big wake-up call and he’s realised the vital part following proper processes plays in keeping you safe. He’d also like to thank everyone for their help and support while he’s been recovering.

Recover at Work

We understand the benefits of working while you recover and can accommodate restrictions to your job with a focus on what you can do safely.

Remember, these restrictions apply everywhere, not just at work.  They may be inconvenient, but keep in mind they are temporary, and you will gradually be able to do more.

Being absent from work can have a negative effect on how you feel. Being stuck at home while you recover can lead to feelings of isolation, boredom, and a general lack of purpose. Getting back to a social, routine-orientated, and productive environment can resolve these issues.

Unless bed-rest is appropriate for your injury, being at work is a healthy way to keep muscles moving and speed up recovery.

We have a register of duties that can be provided to your treating practitioner for consideration or, we can arrange a Recover at Work Provider to support your return to work.