Court Summary - at a glance

Date of offence:
23 July 2021
 
Plea:
Guilty
 
Decision:
Convicted and sentenced
 
Final decision date:
 
Fine imposed:
Not applicable, as Court-ordered enforceable undertaking (EU) was applied for and granted.

Safety lessons learned:

N/A

Defendant name:
Brightwater Engineering Limited
 
Industry:
Energy
 
Date of offence:
23 July 2021
 
Facts in brief:
Workers were upgrading electrical switch boards at Devonport Navy Base. One worker was working at height on a ladder replacing old ceramic fuses in a link box. While the work at height was being undertaken, another worker was switching off the power at the main switch board so there was no chance of anyone else re-energising the system while work was being undertaken, but the entire system was not isolated so there were still energised conductors.

An explosion occurred in the link box caused by a flashover. The worker who was at height was engulfed with flames. The worker then had to climb back down the ladder with burnt hands and he fell and hit his head on his descent. The victim had burns on his hands, face, neck and upper limbs. He spent 3 weeks in hospital and required skin grafts.
 
Offence section:
Sections 36(1)(a), 48(1) and 48(2)(c) of HSWA
 
Date(s) charged:
22 July 2022

Court:
North Shore - District Court
 
Plea:
Guilty
 
Final decision date:
 
Decision:
Convicted and sentenced
 
Fine imposed:
Not applicable, as Court-ordered enforceable undertaking (EU) was applied for and granted.
 
Maximum fine available:
N/A
 
Reparation:
N/A
 
Related Documents:
PDF
Sentencing notes – WorkSafe New Zealand v Brightwater Engineering Limited (PDF 220 KB)
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