Your Resources
Failure to properly use safety equipment
A demolition company has been fined $39,500 and ordered to pay reparation of $58,400 after one of its employees fell on a demolition site.
The employee was wearing a full fall restraint harness at the time of the accident but had failed to clip the lanyard onto the safety line system. The employee then walked backwards and fell almost four metres. The employee suffered broken bones and spinal bruising and also a significant head injury.
In this case safety equipment was available but there was no system to ensure it was used properly and there was a lack of adequate training and supervision. If an edge protection had been put up on the site then that would have protected the worker despite their failure to clip onto the safety line.
Alan Knowsley
Health & Safety Lawyer
Wellington