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Court Summary - at a glance

Date of offence:
6 March 2014
 
Plea:
Guilty
 
Decision:
Convicted
 
Final decision date:
 
Fine imposed:
$30,000

Safety lessons learned:
  1. Ensure hazard assessments are completed on the working site.
  2. Eliminate the hazard by way of backfilling the cellar or ensuring the work platform was of a safe working standard by ensuring the crocodile clips are well maintained and effect or a secondary securement is in place.

Defendant name:
NZEC Waihapa Limited
 
Industry:
Mining
 
Date of offence:
6 March 2014
 
Facts in brief:
NZEC Waihapa Limited (NZEC) operates the Waihapa 1B assets in a joint venture with L & M Energy Limited.

On 6 March 2014 a worker was working at the site assisting with a wireline operation at the site. NZEC had engaged Vause Wireline Limited to carry out the wireline operation. The well cellar on the site was enclosed by a gated area. There was a grating platform over the well cellar which was made up of approximately 9-10 sections that were connected together by crocodile clips. While the Vause team were lowering the tool string, the worker bent down to pick up a tool when the grating underneath him suddenly gave way. The worker fell approximately 3.2 metres to the bottom of the well cellar.

He was able to get to the escape ladder in the cellar. The escape ladder had missing and broken foot rungs and was coming away from the top of the cellar wall. Once at the top of the ladder he was able to make his way of the cellar with the assistance of the other two men.

Received an approximately 7cm laceration to his right shin.
 
Offence section:
S6 Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992
 
Date(s) charged:

Court:
Hawera - District Court
 
Plea:
Guilty
 
Final decision date:
 
Decision:
Convicted
 
Fine imposed:
$30,000
 
Maximum fine available:
$250,000
 
Reparation:
$10,000 (plus court costs of $130)