Court Summary - at a glance

Date of offence:
21/10/2019
 
Plea:
Guilty
 
Decision:
Convicted
 
Final decision date:
 
Fine imposed:
$30,000

Safety lessons learned:

1. Ensure the frame structure holding the 89x89 square hollow section beam was adequate for the purposes of lifting stairs. 

2. Put in place an exclusion zone in the vicinity of the lifting operations.

3. Ensure the workers had the information, training, skills, and experience necessary for the use of the electric chain block hoist. 

4. Install edge protection on the stairs. 

Defendant name:
Urban Space Limited
 
Industry:
Building and construction
 
Date of offence:
21/10/2019
 
Facts in brief:
The defendant company was installing set of stairs into a residential property. This involved hoisting the stairs into place, using an electric chain hoist and double fall chain, which was supported by a steel beam. They encountered difficulties while attempting to hoist the stairs into place. The victim crossed the stairs under the beam to ask another worker for help, and on his way back the steel beam fell and struck him. He then fell off the edge of stairs to the flight of stairs below.
 
Offence section:
Sections 36(1)(a), s 48(1) and (2)(c) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015
 
Date(s) charged:
16/10/2020

Court:
Auckland - District Court
 
Plea:
Guilty
 
Final decision date:
 
Decision:
Convicted
 
Fine imposed:
$30,000
 
Maximum fine available:
$1.5 million
 
Reparation:
$25,000 in emotional harm
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