Articles related to ‘Health and Safety’
Friday, 11 September, 2009 | Alan Knowsley
A company was recently fined $60,000 and ordered to pay reparation of $80,000 after a customer died in the care of the company’s employees.
The company’s safety plan was found to not be up to industry standards and they did not have the necessary safety equipment.
The obligations to ensure the safety of staff, customers and visitors apply in all work places and not just those which appear… Continue reading
Monday, 4 May, 2009 | Alan Knowsley
The 2008 Outdoor Pursuits Centre tragedy where six students and one teacher died participating in outdoor education represents one of a school’s worst nightmares. Every year there are news reports of school parties delayed, trapped or lost while participating in outside the classroom education (EOTC) trips. What are schools’ responsibilities in such situations? To what extent do they also apply within schools? What legal or professional guidelines exist to help… Continue reading
Thursday, 20 March, 2008 | Alan Knowsley
An employer food company is digging deep after being recently fined $110,000 and ordered to pay workers $33,000 compensation.
Fumes from an LPG powered forklift poisoned 11 workers. The employer has now instigated an electric forklift only policy in enclosed spaces.
Could this have been you? We recommend you regularly review your workplace to identify hazards and then take steps to eliminate, isolate or minimise them.
If… Continue reading
Wednesday, 22 March, 2006 | Alan Knowsley
Courts are imposing stiff sentences for breaches of the Health & Safety in Employment Act and employers cannot expect any leniency now that the provisions have been in place for some time and prosecutions have received wide publicity.
Recent cases include:
- $125,000 fines and reparation following worker’s death. A fine of $35,000 for failing to ensure the safety of employees was imposed on an employer after a
Monday, 12 December, 2005 | Alan Knowsley
You organised a Christmas party for team morale and to have some fun. Now you’re facing a prosecution and a $250,000 fine because someone got hurt. What went wrong?
Christmas parties are a common part of seasonal festivities at workplaces and they are certainly to be supported! However, just like at any other activity your organisation undertakes, you need to ensure you have identified significant health and safety hazards… Continue reading
Monday, 14 November, 2005 | Alan Knowsley
Recently the Department of Labour prosecuted an accounting company in Nelson under health and safety legislation for not managing their staff’s stress properly. The company was ordered to pay a total penalty of $9,294. The penalty would have been higher but the Court took into account a confidential payment the company had already made to the employee following a personal grievance she took against them.While all jobs contain levels of… Continue reading
Wednesday, 5 October, 2005 | Alan Knowsley
Stiff sentences are being imposed for breaches of the Health & Safety in Employment Act. You need to know about the provisions and how they will affect your business.
The major points are:
- The imprisonment penalty has been doubled to 2 years.
- Maximum fines have increased to $500,000.
- Harm includes mental harm and stress.
- A new definition of “all practicable steps” to avoid harm.
Wednesday, 8 October, 2003 | Alan Knowsley
The organiser of the 2001 Le Race has been fined $10,000.00 following the death of a competitor when struck by a car.* Ambiguous information was given to competitors which lead to confusion over whether the road was closed to other traffic. The safety plan failed to eliminate this confusion. The Judge commented that a clear statement that all sections of the road were open to other traffic would have avoided… Continue reading
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