Court Summary - at a glance

Date of offence:
6 March 2014
 
Plea:
Guilty
 
Decision:
Convicted
 
Final decision date:
 
Fine imposed:
$50,500

Safety lessons learned:
  1. To have provided and implemented a safe system of work in relation to the loading and unloading of vehicles;
  2. Ensure that the reversing camera attached to the rear of the vehicle was working;
  3. Ensure an audible reversing alarm was fitted to the truck;
  4. Ensure that the truck’s reversing lights were working

Defendant name:
Hall’s Direct Limited
 
Industry:
Postal, transport and warehousing
 
Date of offence:
6 March 2014
 
Facts in brief:
The Defendant company is a logistics company which specialises in the transportation of frozen and chilled goods.

The victim was employed as a truck driver. On the day of the incident, the victim and another employee had completed their deliveries when they received a request from the dispatcher requesting assistance with a delivery, as a fish truck had broken down.

During the delivery, the victim instructed the other employee to line the truck up with the loading bay. The victim left the cab and walked down the passenger side of the truck as it was being reversed. The victim was standing with his back towards the truck when he was struck by the reversing truck and pinned against the loading bay. He received fractures to his ribs and spine.
 
Offence section:
Section 6 and section 50(1)(a) of the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992
 
Date(s) charged:

Court:
Auckland - District Court
 
Plea:
Guilty
 
Final decision date:
 
Decision:
Convicted
 
Fine imposed:
$50,500
 
Maximum fine available:
$250,000
 
Reparation:
$30,000