Court Summary - at a glance

Date of offence:
30 May 2013
 
Plea:
Guilty
 
Decision:
Convicted
 
Final decision date:
 
Fine imposed:
$20,000

Safety lessons learned:

Ensure employees are provided with and follow a written standard operating procedure and/or policy for the installation of heavy gates that include:

  1. a specific requirement to carry out a hazard identification exercise prior to work commencing and to identify how the hazards are to be controlled, including means of support for the gate until fully installed;
  2. a specific requirement that drawings/plans of the gate are to be taken to the installation site.

Defendant name:
Abbas Limited
 
Industry:
Manufacturing
 
Date of offence:
30 May 2013
 
Facts in brief:
The charge relates to an accident that occurred on 30 May 2013 when the Defendant was installing a large steel gate at the new Tauranga Police Station. The gate measured 11.3 metres in length, was approximately 2 metres in height and weighed between 700-900kg.

During installation the gate became unsupported and fell on an employee causing a fracture to his spine in his lower back and a double fracture to his pelvis.
 
Offence section:
S6 Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992
 
Date(s) charged:
6 November 2013

Court:
Auckland - District Court
 
Plea:
Guilty
 
Final decision date:
 
Decision:
Convicted
 
Fine imposed:
$20,000
 
Maximum fine available:
$250,000
 
Reparation:
$40,000
 
Related Documents:
PDF
Sentencing notes - WorkSafe New Zealand v Abbas Limited (PDF 174 KB)
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