Officials in New Zealand continue to stay on top of workplace safety issues, looking to make safer conditions for workers.
WorkSafe NZ handed down charges recently against a company and two individuals following the death of 20 year-old Lincoln Kidd in a forestry accident near Levin in December of 2013.
The company has been charged under section 49 of the Health and Safety in Employment Act, which alleges the company, knew that serious harm was reasonably likely to be caused. The charge carries a maximum fine of $500,000. It has also been charged in the alternative under Section 50 which carries a $250,000 maximum fine.
One of the individuals has been charged with acquiescing, assisting or directing the company in that failure and faces a maximum penalty of 2 years imprisonment and/or a fine not exceeding $500,000.
The remaining individual faces a charge in relation to an alleged failure prior to the date of Kidd’s death which is punishable by a maximum fine of $250,000.
WorkSafe NZ was unable to provide any further information as those charged have the right to request name suppression at their first court appearance. Any further detail about the charges may lead to identification of those charged.
Serious Injuries for Forestry Workers Drops
In related forestry workplace safety news, for the first five months of this year, the number of serious injuries reported in forestry has dropped by nearly half compared with last year, Labour Minister Simon Bridges reported.
“This is positive news and indicates the work the whole industry – the regulator, the forestry companies, the contractors and the workers – has been doing is paying off, but this is not a time to celebrate,” Bridges says.“I remain concerned that WorkSafe New Zealand is continuing to find very serious levels of non-compliance in the industry.”
WorkSafe New Zealand figures show 46 serious injuries have been reported this year up to the end of May compared with 82 in the same period last year. This year’s figures are substantially below the six year rolling average for the same period of 77.
During the recently completed proactive ‘breaking out’ assessment program, inspectors made 222 visits and issued 299 enforcements including 25 prohibition notices.
The latest figures from WorkSafe’s new proactive ‘tree felling’ assessment program show inspectors visited an additional 224 tree felling operations and issued 235 enforcement notices, including 36 prohibition notices which shut down part or all of a felling operation.
WorkSafe NZ also visited 32 forest owners and companies to determine their compliance with their duties as Principals. Further discussions will be held with the owners and managers to get greater clarity on the link between their actions and the continuing levels of non-compliance at the bush line.
Bridges added that “These latest figures must lead the whole industry to re-double its efforts to put the safety of its workers first.”
Author Kori Shafer-Stack, Editor, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. is an expert in post-injury response procedures and part of the Amaxx team helping companies reduce their workers compensation costs by 20% to 50%. www.reduceyourworkerscomp.com. Contact: kstack@reduceyourworkerscomp.com.
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