Court Summary - at a glance

Date of offence:
24 February 2017
 
Plea:
Guilty
 
Decision:
Convicted
 
Final decision date:
 
Fine imposed:
Starting point of $400,000 reduced to $212,000 for both TSSL and Herberts

Safety lessons learned:

Being a PCBU, failed to ensure so far as was reasonably practicable, the health and safety of other persons, including [the deceased], who worked for Transport Services Southland Limited (TSSL), was not put at risk from work carried out as part of the conduct of the business or undertaking, namely operation of the Hyundai Loader owned and operated by Herbets at ADM New Zealand Limited's transitional facility.

Defendant name:
Herberts Transport Limited
 
Industry:
Postal, transport and warehousing
 
Date of offence:
24 February 2017
 
Facts in brief:
McLellan had a contract to load and unload palm kernel expeller at a shed in South Port, Bluff. McLellan contracted TSSL and Herberts to provide trucks and drivers for this purpose.

The victim was an employee of TSSL, he was fatally injured when struck by a loader while working at the shed.
 
 
Offence section:
Sections 36(1)(a) and 48(1) and (2)(c) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015
 
Date(s) charged:
20 February 2018

Court:
Invercargill - District Court
 
Plea:
Guilty
 
Final decision date:
 
Decision:
Convicted
 
Fine imposed:
Starting point of $400,000 reduced to $212,000 for both TSSL and Herberts
 
Maximum fine available:
$1.5 million
 
Reparation:
Emotional harm - $130,000 ($32,500 each is to be paid by Herberts and TSSL within 28 days of sentencing; the balance is to be met by Herberts and TSSL if it has not been paid following the outcome of McLellan’s trial and/or sentencing)

Consequential loss - $120,128 ($69,259 of which is considered paid by Herberts and TSSL; the balance is to be met by Herberts and TSSL if it has not been paid following the outcome of McLellan’s trial)

Costs - $1,750