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Employer penalised $10,000 after employee is struck by a swinging chain…

An employee was struck in the face by a chain when the screw securing it to a wall which was being moved by a crane snapped. The employee suffered a forehead laceration and damage to the eye.

The District Court sentenced the employer under the Health and Safety legislation for failing to take all practicable steps to ensure the safety of its employees.

WorkSafe New Zealand discovered that the crane was lifting weight in excess of its 100kg limit, and found that the screws securing the chain were distorted and fatigued.

The employer had no current test certificate or design verification for the crane and lifting tackle, and had not established a working load limit for the lifting equipment.

The Court ordered the employer to pay $10,000 in reparation to the injured employee.