Company fined $6,600 after worker crushed by 800kg of steel

Tuesday 4 December 2001

A Gisborne company was fined $6,600 today after being prosecuted by the Occupational Safety and Health Service (OSH).

$5000 of this fine went to the victim.

Logistical Solutions Ltd were sentenced after a worker suffered serious harm while helping to dismantle a steel structure that was almost three metres high.

One of the partitions, which weighed more than 800kg, collapsed on the worker. He suffered two broken ribs, chipped wing bones in his lower back and lacerations.

The company was found guilty of failing to take all practicable steps to ensure its employee was not harmed while dismantling the heavy steel structure.

"The accident could have been prevented if the company had ensured safer work methods were used. These could have included supporting and bracing the beams in the structure," said Murray Thomson, Service Manager, Hawke’s Bay, Occupational Safety and Health.

"In the last few weeks the Hawke’s Bay region has had six prosecutions.

"This latest fine shows, once again, that businesses must take their obligations under the Health and Safety in Employment Act seriously.

"All employees have the right to go to work and return home safely at the end of the day."