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Court Summary - at a glance

Date of offence:
30 August 2006 – 31 October 2006
 
Plea:
Guilty
 
Decision:
Convicted on Reg 18(a) charge
Convicted and discharged for Reg 20 charge
 
Final decision date:
 
Fine imposed:
$34,500

Safety lessons learned:

Not applicable. 

Defendant name:
Petroleum Services (2001) Limited
 
Industry:
Petroleum
 
Date of offence:
30 August 2006 – 31 October 2006
 
Facts in brief:
PSL describes itself as an “oil industry contractor”. Its specialist services include the provision of above ground diesel fuel storage solutions. In approximately early 2006, Ruapehu Alpine Lifts revised its relationship with its supplier of fuels, Allied Petroleum Limited. Part of the revised arrangement between RAL and Allied envisaged the upgrade of fuel storage facilities at the ski-field in order to meet current HSNO regulations regarding the storage of hazardous substances.

PSL was responsible for the initial design, manufacture, supply and installation of the Stationary Container System. It also modified the Stationery Container System by inserting the booster pump on or about 2 October 2006. In doing so, PSL fundamentally changed the nature of the system; from a gravity-fed delivery system, to a pressurised delivery system. Following the addition of the booster pump, the system was not safe for its intended purpose because it failed to comply with the applicable standards (or appropriate equivalent standards). As a supplier of pressure equipment to Ruapehu Alpine Lifts, PSL also failed to take all reasonable steps to ensure that the equipment was manufactured in accordance with a verified design.

Between 26 and 27 September 2013, there was a spill of approximately 19,000 litres of diesel from the Turoa ski-field into the Makotuku Stream affecting native species of water life including eel and the endangered blue duck.
 
Related prosecutions:
 
Offence section:
Regulation 18(a) and 20 of Health and Safety in Employment (Pressure Equipment, Cranes, and Passenger Ropeways) Regulations 1999.
 
Date(s) charged:
25 March 2014

Court:
Taihape - District Court
 
Plea:
Guilty
 
Final decision date:
 
Decision:
Convicted on Reg 18(a) charge
Convicted and discharged for Reg 20 charge
 
Fine imposed:
$34,500
 
Maximum fine available:
$250,000
 
Reparation:
$0