Court Summary - at a glance

Date of offence:
4 May 2017
 
Plea:
Guilty
 
Decision:
Convicted
 
Final decision date:
 
Fine imposed:
$281,250

Safety lessons learned:
  1. Change the design of the kitchen vats at its Hastings factory to minimise the risk of harm to workers operating such plant, from boiling liquids; and/or
  2. Have or to implement adequate processes to ensure that kitchen vats at its Hastings factory were operated so as to minimise risk of harm to workers operating such vats from boiling liquids; and/or
  3. Ensure the victim was provided with, and wore, adequate personal protective equipment, to protect from harm arising from contact with boiling liquids; and/or
  4. Provide adequate training to the victim, to the safe operation of kitchen vats at its Hastings factory; and/or
  5. Ensure adequate supervision of the victim, while operating the kitchen vats at its Hastings Factory.

Defendant name:
Heinz Wattie's Limited
 
Industry:
Manufacturing
 
Date of offence:
4 May 2017
 
Facts in brief:
On 4 May 2017, the victim was working for Heinz Wattie’s. When she noticed a vat was about to boil over, she reached up to try to turn the steam off and then turned to run. Boiling brine solution overflowed from the opening of the vat and entered both of her gumboots. She suffered bilateral burns to her lower limbs and deep dermal burns, in particular to her lower left leg.
 
Offence section:
Sections 48(1) and 2(c), and 36(1)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015
 
Date(s) charged:

Court:
Hastings - District Court
 
Plea:
Guilty
 
Final decision date:
 
Decision:
Convicted
 
Fine imposed:
$281,250
 
Maximum fine available:
$1,500,000
 
Reparation:
$50,000 to cover both emotional harm and consequential loss
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