Court Summary - at a glance

Date of offence:
13 April 2013
 
Plea:
Guilty
 
Decision:
Convicted
 
Final decision date:
 
Fine imposed:
$40,000

Safety lessons learned:

Ensure the SOPs in place are implemented and correctly used at all times to prevent dangerous practices such as requiring three men working below a suspended pipe.

Defendant name:
Oceanea Gold (New Zealand) Limited
 
Industry:
Mining
 
Date of offence:
13 April 2013
 
Facts in brief:
The victim was engaged by the Defendant through his Australian employer to carry out general mining duties. On 13 April 2013, the victim was injured when he and two employees for the Defendant were working to lower pipes for replacement at the Frasers Underground hard rock gold mine.

The process of lowering the pipes required the use of a ladder which is placed against the wall of the mine/tunnel under the damaged pipe (suspended above). At the time of the accident, once the chain was cut the impact of the falling pipe broke and the pipe fell and glanced off the victim’s helmet, into the ladder and then into the victim’s left leg. As a result the victim suffered a tibial plateau fracture just below his left knee.
 
Offence section:
S6 Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992
 
Date(s) charged:

Court:
Dunedin - District Court
 
Plea:
Guilty
 
Final decision date:
 
Decision:
Convicted
 
Fine imposed:
$40,000
 
Maximum fine available:
$250,000
 
Reparation:
$20,000 (plus Court costs of $130)
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