NSW work-experience kid loses fingers

A Coffs Harbour manufacturing business has copped a $250,000 fine after a 17-year-old work experience student had to have two finger tips amputated after they were crushed in machinery.

SafeWork NSW said the teen was doing a stint at Thermal Electric Elements, an electric heating elements and systems manufacturing business, when the incident occurred in August 2014.

It was when he was using the brake press machine, and removing metal strips from it, that he inadvertently activated its knife.

SafeWork NSW has found a general lack of instruction, training, information and supervision provided to the work experience student, and the company was fined in the NSW District Court.

"This incident represents a major failure in work health and safety in relation to machine guarding."

"This has left a young worker with life-long injuries that may affect his future employment prospects," SafeWork NSW's executive director Peter Dunphy said on Wednesday.