The District Court has ordered an employer to pay $60,000 after a logging incident that killed an employee. The fine would have been $450,000 given the failings, and outcome of the failure to take all reasonable steps here, but was reduced as the employer was insolvent.

The employee was using machinery to pull logs up a slope. One of the logs became stuck and the employee went down the hill to reposition it.

As the employee repositioned the log, the machine at the top of the hill slipped and fell. The employee suffered fatal head injuries when he was hit by the machine.

The Worksafe investigation found that the machine’s tracks were not properly formed and so the risk of the machine moving was not minimized.

The more hazardous a workplace, the greater the responsibility is on an employer to identify and eliminate or minimise risks as far as reasonably practicable. Health and safety plans must be reviewed regularly, and their implementation enforced.

If there are concerns around health and safety in your workplace, it is wise to speak with a professional experienced in the area.

Leading law firms committed to helping clients cost-effectively will have a range of fixed-priced Initial Consultations to suit most people’s needs in quickly learning what their options are.  At Rainey Collins we have an experienced team who can answer your questions and put you on the right track.

 

Alan Knowsley
Health and Safety Lawyer