Court Summary - at a glance

Date of offence:
On or about 9 January 2019
 
Plea:
Guilty
 
Decision:
Convicted
 
Final decision date:
 
Fine imposed:
$279,000

Safety lessons learned:

CHL did not adequately maintain its wire rope edge protection on trailers, and did not train its drivers or other staff properly in testing those ropes.

Defendant name:
Car Haulaways Limited
 
Industry:
Postal, transport and warehousing
 
Date of offence:
On or about 9 January 2019
 
Facts in brief:
CHL used operators, including the victim, to drive its car transporter trailers. The vicim was the only contractor, and operated through his own company. One day when strapping cars to the top deck of his trailer, he fell and died. The WorkSafe investigation identified failures by CHL in its maintenance and training around edge protection, specifically the wire ropes on its trailers, and related failures to co-ordinate health and safety systems with the victim’s company.
 
Offence section:
Section 36 and 48 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015
 
Date(s) charged:
20-Dec-19

Court:
Porirua - District Court
 
Plea:
Guilty
 
Final decision date:
 
Decision:
Convicted
 
Fine imposed:
$279,000
 
Maximum fine available:
$1.5m
 
Reparation:
$90,000 in emotional harm
$560 in consequential loss
$2,050 in costs

 
Related Documents:
PDF
Sentencing notes - WorkSafe New Zealand v Car Haulaways Limited (PDF 212 KB)
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