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A young boy had a lucky escape after he fell from a quad bike and was run over by the equipment being towed behind it. WorkSafe says it is a reminder for farmers and families to ensure they are keeping kids off adult sized quad bikes, as riders or passengers.
Small farming company Greystone Holdings Limited was sentenced today in Wellington District Court after an incident that occurred in July 2016, when a six year old was visiting the 60 acre farm owned by his grandparents during school holidays. The victim was riding on the back of a quad doing tasks on the farm, when he fell from the quad and was run over by equipment being towed behind it. The quad was being driven by the boy’s uncle who was employed on the property. The victim was taken to hospital by helicopter and had suffered a fracture to his left leg that required multiple surgeries.
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A major freight distribution and logistics company appeared in Auckland District Court today after an incident involving a forklift that left a man fatally injured.
Toll Networks (NZ) Limited was sentenced after a worker was crushed to death by falling pallets that were being moved from a train wagon by forklift in September 2016. The victim was standing beside the forklift and as the driver reversed the pallets it was carrying fell and struck the worker who died at the scene. Our investigation found that Toll had not identified the risk of a pedestrian being hit by freight falling from forklift tines and that its pedestrian safety system relied on administrative controls that were ambiguous and contradictory. Worksafe NZ has accepted an enforceable undertaking from Fletcher Construction Company Limited, following an incident in May 2016 where a worker was injured by a temporary wall which collapsed following a high-rain event.
The worker was working in a two metre deep hole where temporary concrete blocks were being used as a retaining wall. Water was being pumped out of the hole following heavy rainfall. The worker was attaching plywood to the blocks to stop aggregate being washed under the temporary concrete block wall when the concrete blocks started to shift. He was unable to get far enough away before he was caught under the falling blocks and plywood. The victim sustained multiple fractures to his right lower leg. The incident required him to take eight months off work as a result of his injuries. Almost 50 years after New Zealand businesses working in and around construction were first made aware of the risks of asbestos, removal of the cancer causing material is still not being managed effectively.
“Asbestos is New Zealand’s number one killer in the workplace with around 170 people dying every year from asbestos-related diseases,” says WorkSafe Deputy General Manager, Investigations and Specialist Services, Simon Humphries. Those working in construction need to be more diligent when it comes to managing asbestos removal because it is not just yourself at risk. “Asbestos fibres can travel thousands of kilometres from a site where removal work is undertaken under certain weather conditions. Negligence is unacceptable and there is no excuse for putting the lives of others in and around your workplace at risk.” These comments follow the sentencing of John Carstairs Robertson in New Plymouth District Court today on health and safety charges relating to unsafe removal of asbestos Fatigue from long hours of work must not compromise worker safety.
“Getting the job done is important, but not if the hours required to do it put workers at risk of injury or death,” says WorkSafe Deputy General Manager, Investigations and Specialist Services, Simon Humphries. His comments follow the sentencing of agricultural contractor Micheal Vining Contracting Limited in Huntly District Court. In October 2016, a worker for the company had been assisting with harvesting operations on a farm in Pukekawa. He logged a 16.75 hour day before departing the farm, taking a tractor home in preparation for the next day’s work. At 2.45am he crashed the tractor and died as a result of injuries sustained during the accident. Critical risks in workplaces must not only be identified, but also managed effectively.
Mining company Oceana Gold has been sentenced, after the death of a worker in July 2016. They appeared in Tauranga District Court for sentencing in March and a decision was released yesterday. The worker had been driving an earthmoving machine underground when it fell 15 metres off a vertical edge. Our investigation found that Oceana Gold had failed to develop and implement a safe system of work for the creation of 1.5 metre high bunds above vertical slopes. Oceana Gold had identified the risk and the solution of bunds to reduce the risk of a vehicle falling into a void. However, they had not effectively mitigated the risks involved in implementing that solution |
AuthorTania Curtin Browse by Category
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February 2019
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Optimal Safety Solutions - Workplace Health and Safety Consultant in Christchurch
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Address: 57 Stonebridge Way, Prebbleton, Christchurch 7604
Email: tania@optimalsafetysolutions.co.nz Phone: 021 2313186 |
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