Court Summary - at a glance

Date of offence:
12 June 2014
 
Plea:
Guilty
 
Decision:
Convicted
 
Final decision date:
 
Fine imposed:
$24,250

Safety lessons learned:
  1. Implement a written standard operating procedure for trolley derailment.
  2. Ensure suitable equipment was used for removing trolleys from cylinders, including appropriate chains and links.
  3. Have a service and inspection schedule in place for chains and links.
  4. Ensure forklift and vehicles are protected from likely harm.
  5. Implement and ensure staff adheres to an effective written lone worker policy.

Defendant name:
Hautapu Pine Products Limited
 
Industry:
Forestry
 
Date of offence:
12 June 2014
 
Facts in brief:
The defendant operates a timber mill and treatment plant. The victim was employed by the defendant approximately 18 months prior to his accident. On 12 June 2014, the victim was working alone after his two colleagues had left for the day.

Three of the five trolleys loaded with treated timber inside the transport cylinder had derailed while being pulled out by the victim. He attempted to use the forklift to pull the treated timber from the treatment cylinders. A bolt that attached to the chain to the trolley snapped, the chain snapped backwards going through the rear window of the forklift and striking the victim in the back of the head.

He was knocked unconscious and the forklift drove forward before coming to rest against some wood pallets where he fell from the forklift

The victim’s partner called in to the mill on her way home from work at approximately 8:30pm and find him wandering around the mill in a dazed state, bleeding heavily and with a large laceration to the back of his head.
 
Offence section:
S6 Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992
 
Date(s) charged:

Court:
Taihape - District Court
 
Plea:
Guilty
 
Final decision date:
 
Decision:
Convicted
 
Fine imposed:
$24,250
 
Maximum fine available:
$250,000
 
Reparation:
$10,000
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