Two companies fined after workplace injury...

The District Court has fined two employers involved in a workplace accident where the employee of a scaffolding company suffered severe burns when scaffolding touched power lines.

The scaffolding company was ordered to pay reparations of $30,000 and $5,000 plus a $30,000 fine.  The fine would have been $309,000 but for the inability of the company to meet a high fine.

The roofing company was ordered to pay reparation of $500 and a $30,000 fine.  That fine would have been $180,000 if the company had the means to pay a significant fine.

Both companies had identified the risks of electrical wires, but neither took steps to contact the power company to have the power turned off.  A workman touched a power line when taking down the scaffolding and was seriously injured.

All risks must not only be identified, but a plan acted upon to eliminate the risks.

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Alan Knowsley