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Court Summary - at a glance

Date of offence:
3 December 2012
 
Plea:
Guilty
 
Decision:
Convicted
 
Final decision date:
 
Fine imposed:
$11,250

Safety lessons learned:

The Defendant company should have, before certification was given, required its employees to:

  1. Ensure that they have a good working knowledge of the machine including its operation and safety features.
  2. Ensure that the machine meet the relevant standard and is safe to use.
  3. Report any issues to either Schindlers and/or AIAL.

Defendant name:
Corona Electrical Limited (amended from Richard Meiklejohn)
 
Industry:
Public administration and safety
 
Date of offence:
3 December 2012
 
Facts in brief:
The Defendant company was engaged by Schindler Lifts NZ Limited "Schindlers" to carry out inspections of the lifts, escalators and travelators at Auckland International Airport Terminal Building. The purpose of the inspection (which was carried out annually) was to certify the plant so a Building warrant of fitness could be issued.

Mr Meiklejohn was accredited by the Auckland Council as an IQP and therefore qualified to carry out inspections and certify equipment in accordance with the Building Act 2004. Amongst those serviced was a Schindler 9500 moving walk (travelator) known as T2 which was situated at Pier A Connector in the Auckland International Terminal Building. It connects the arrivals duty free area to the transit passenger screening area.

On 3 December 2012 at approximately 4pm, an Australian tourist disembarked a flight at Auckland airport from Samoa in transit to Australia. She walked through the arrivals Duty Free area and followed a sign through the Pier A Connector to the international transfer screening area.

As she stepped onto the travelator, it started up, travelling in the direction opposite to which she was walking. As she attempted to turn to get off the travelator, she fell onto the metal exit plate.
 
Offence section:
S15 Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992
 
Date(s) charged:

Court:
Manukau - District Court
 
Plea:
Guilty
 
Final decision date:
 
Decision:
Convicted
 
Fine imposed:
$11,250
 
Maximum fine available:
$250,000
 
Reparation:
$2,939