Court Summary - at a glance

Date of offence:
15 February 2016
 
Plea:
Guilty
 
Decision:
Convicted
 
Final decision date:
 
Fine imposed:
$31,000

Safety lessons learned:
  • Ensure employees are either under documented training and close supervision, or deemed competent, to operate a bulldozer in assisting in a line change for a harvest operation; and
  • Develop, implement and maintain a specific hazard management plan for operating mobile plant on a track where the stability of mobile plant is compromised by slope, weather or ground conditions.

Defendant name:
NZ Forest Logistics Limited
 
Industry:
Forestry
 
Date of offence:
15 February 2016
 
Facts in brief:
The Defendant company manages forests and forest harvesting operations.

On the day of the incident, an employee was reversing a bulldozer up a track during while assisting with a line shift in a cable harvesting operation. The track was on a sloping gradient, had a steep edge on one side and was narrowed due to slippage. As the employee turned the bulldozer, it toppled sideways and rolled for approximately 65 metres down a steep bank.

The victim suffered a fractured back, fractured hip, and lacerations.
 
Offence section:
Sections 6 and 50(1)(a) of the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992
 
Date(s) charged:

Court:
Masterton - District Court
 
Plea:
Guilty
 
Final decision date:
 
Decision:
Convicted
 
Fine imposed:
$31,000
 
Maximum fine available:
$250,000
 
Reparation:
$36,910
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