How to notify us over the holiday period.
Notifications
If someone has been seriously injured, become seriously ill, or died as a result of work – phone us on 0800 030 040 straight away. We have staff available to respond to these 24/7.
If you’re not sure what a notifiable event is, including your obligation to hold a scene, visit What events need to be notified?
Notifications made through our online form won't be monitored between 12pm on Tuesday 24 December 2024 and 8.30am on Monday 6 January 2025.
If you’re not sure if you need to notify us, use our online notification system and we’ll respond to you after 6 January 2025.
Health and safety concerns
If you have a health and safety concern that isn’t urgent, use our online form and we’ll respond to you after 6 January 2025.
Raise a health or safety concern
General enquiries
General enquiries made by phone or email after 12pm on Tuesday 24 December will be responded to from Monday 6 January 2025. This does not apply to notifications made by phone on 0800 030 040.
We wish you a safe and relaxing holiday.
Court Summary - at a glance
- Identify the hazard of engulfment within grain silos;
- Develop, communicate and enforce effective policy and procedures for confined space work which includes:
- Hazard identification;
- Risk assessment;
- Permit to work;
- Training requirements;
- Competency assessment;
- Supervision;
- Isolation of all services;
- Atmospheric monitoring;
- Safety equipment requirements;
- Personal protective equipment requirements; and
- Emergency planning.
- Ensure employees receive sufficient training in regards to confined space work and work at height;
- Monitor employees’ performance in regards to confined space work, work at height and lockout of equipment;
- Provide suitable and sufficient safety equipment to ensure work in confined spaces and at height is carried out safely; and
- Supply suitable and sufficient safety equipment to perform a rescue from a confined space in the event of an emergency.
While the electricians were working inside, the outfeed auger on the silo was started. The farmer did not communicate to the electricians that the silo would be emptied. As a result, the grain inside the silo rapidly sunk down. The victim, who was standing at the time, sunk into the grain. The victim’s co-worker exited the silo, shut off the auger and raised the alarm that the victim was trapped. They managed to free the victim who was completely engulfed in grain.
The victim was transferred to Dunedin hospital via helicopter for a medical assessment and discharged later that afternoon. In total 15 people were exposed to the risk including emergency personnel.
Last updated