New Zealand construction firm fined after worker injured in 2.9m fall

The construction company was fined $34,000 and ordered to pay reparations of $16,000 after pleading guilty to one charge under sections 6 and 50 (1) (a) of the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992.
On 22 October 2015, the worker was installing a flooring system on the second storey of a house in Timaru in the southern Canterbury region of New Zealand. The system is a composite steel flooring system made of lightweight, pre-formed steel sheets.
While drilling timber fascia boards to a steel beam, the steel sheets, which the worker was using as a work platform, moved and the worker fell 2.9m onto the concrete floor. He was knocked unconscious, sustained fractures, and suffers fatigue and headaches as a result of his head injury.
A WorkSafe investigation revealed the company had failed to complete adequate planning and hazard assessment in relation to the work, which would have included assessing whether the sheets made a safe work platform and making sure that the sheets were installed in line with the manufacturer’s instructions.
The worker was unfamiliar with the installation process and had received no training on how to do so. No one had checked that the worker installed the sheets correctly.
WorkSafe’s Construction Programme Manager Marcus Nalter said “working from height is a well-known risk in the construction industry and it must be managed appropriately at all times.”
Nalter added, “The company should have ensured that the fitting of the flooring system was being done correctly and appropriate controls were in place to prevent a fall from height, such as providing a safe working platform.”
“People working in high risk industries such as construction should be able to trust that the employer has their workers’ safety at the front of their mind. In this instance, The company’s inattention to safety has resulted in injury and ongoing health impacts for the worker,” said Mr Nalter.
The importance of training and hazard management while working at height has been reinforced here. Don’t risk non-compliance contact ISOsafe today on 1300 789 132 

South Australian Construction Company prosecuted after worker fatality

The family of a worker electrocuted in 2014 has received compensation as part of a decision made by the South Australian Industrial Court.
The court convicted and imposed a penalty of $45 000, plus court costs on a construction company in recognition of an early guilty plea and the business agreeing to publicise the incident in local newspapers.
In addition, the business in concern consented to an order to pay $20 000 to the family of the worker.
On 23 April 2014, a worker was electrocuted when metal flashing he was holding came into contact with overhead power lines, resulting in his death.
Following investigation by South Australian regulator, SafeWork, the construction company was charged with failing to provide and maintain a work environment, failing to ensure the provision and maintenance of a safe system of work, and failing to ensure the provision of information, training, instruction or supervision of workers.
Presiding Magistrate Ardlie acknowledged that this was the company’s first offence as well as the significant capital invested by the company in training workers, since the incident.
Ardlie added, “Importantly and fundamentally the business now conducts an inspection of each site before any plans are submitted to council prior to the commencement of any work,” said Magistrate Ardlie.
The conviction highlights the serious impacts of unsafe work practices and especially the need for extra care when working near overhead power lines. Don’t risk getting caught out, be proactive, contact ISOsafe today to book a free advisory meeting 1300 789 132.