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Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA) Stories - Page 2

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Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA) stories

Teen requires facial reconstruction after converted crane injury
New Zealand law

Teen requires facial reconstruction after converted crane injury

The Rotorua contractor needed facial reconstruction after a modified crane struck him with a 412-kilogram beam that should not have been used.

By Michael Curreen • 3 min read • Tue, 25th Feb 2025
Where there’s a will, there’s always a way
Productivity

Where there’s a will, there’s always a way

New Zealand’s 545,000 small businesses could gain cheaper chemical compliance if ministers revive industry codes of practice, the sector says.

By Staff Writer • 6 min read • Tue, 11th Feb 2025
Companies sentenced for working unsafely near powerlines
New Zealand law

Companies sentenced for working unsafely near powerlines

WorkSafe says stronger checks are needed after three firms were fined and ordered to pay reparations over powerline incidents that killed or injured workers.

By Michael Curreen • 5 min read • Tue, 21st Jan 2025
Forestry worker dead after being put at risk by ‘uncommon’ method
New Zealand law

Forestry worker dead after being put at risk by ‘uncommon’ method

WorkSafe says forestry firms must tighten site checks after a 23-year-old was killed by a log that rolled 325 metres at Tangoio.

By Staff Writer • 4 min read • Tue, 17th Dec 2024
HSWA: who are those ‘other persons’?
Management

HSWA: who are those ‘other persons’?

Courts are widening health and safety duties to cover consultants whose advice can put workers and the public at risk.

By Michael Curreen • 7 min read • Tue, 15th Oct 2024
Deadly roller door collapse a result of ‘poor workmanship’
New Zealand law

Deadly roller door collapse a result of ‘poor workmanship’

WorkSafe has fined and ordered reparations after a faulty roller door installation killed a pastor at an Auckland church.

By Michael Curreen • 3 min read • Mon, 26th Aug 2024
Consultants on notice after landmark sentencing
Health and Safety

Consultants on notice after landmark sentencing

A New Plymouth consultancy has been fined NZD $70,000 after a worker's traumatic brain injury exposed consultants to liability under safety law.

By Michael Curreen • 3 min read • Mon, 19th Aug 2024
Another trainee killed on the job
New Zealand law

Another trainee killed on the job

WorkSafe says apprentices remain exposed to deadly risks unless employers improve supervision and repair procedures after a second fatal sentencing this year.

By Michael Curreen • 3 min read • Sun, 26th May 2024
Serious forklift injury the result of poor maintenance
Health and Safety

Serious forklift injury the result of poor maintenance

A poorly serviced forklift on a slope left a worker with a broken back and punctured lung, prompting a $240,000 fine.

By Michael Curreen • 3 min read • Thu, 23rd May 2024
Enforceable undertaking sees self-driving vehicle address safety concerns
Robotics

Enforceable undertaking sees self-driving vehicle address safety concerns

WorkSafe has dropped charges after Mercury NZ pledged NZD $1.15 million to safer plant inspections and geothermal risk controls.

By Michael Curreen • 4 min read • Tue, 9th Apr 2024
Customer loses leg after being hit by forklift
New Zealand law

Customer loses leg after being hit by forklift

A lack of traffic controls at Trade Depot's Onehunga site left a customer with an amputated leg, prompting almost USD $500,000 in penalties.

By Michael Curreen • 3 min read • Wed, 28th Feb 2024
Contractor and sub-contractor charged for death of apprentice
New Zealand law

Contractor and sub-contractor charged for death of apprentice

A teenage apprentice’s death has prompted fines and reparations after WorkSafe said two firms failed to manage the risk of heavy framing.

By Michael Curreen • 3 min read • Fri, 2nd Feb 2024
Tree feller’s ‘dismissive attitude’ put motorists at risk
Management

Tree feller’s ‘dismissive attitude’ put motorists at risk

A Nelson court fined Stratford Logging operator Kevin Howard Stratford NZD $56,000 after unsafe felling beside State Highway 60 endangered motorists.

By Michael Curreen • 4 min read • Mon, 29th Jan 2024
Improvised method gets worker killed
Labour

Improvised method gets worker killed

Auckland construction boss Grouting Services has been fined after an improvised beam removal method left a 21-year-old worker dead.

By Michael Curreen • 3 min read • Tue, 16th Jan 2024
Worker rescued from trench collapse
New Zealand law

Worker rescued from trench collapse

Worksafe has fined R&L Drainage NZD $275,000 after a worker was nearly buried alive in a Te Kuiti trench collapse.

By Michael Curreen • 4 min read • Mon, 15th Jan 2024
‘Not the place for childcare’: forklift hits five-year-old
New Zealand law

‘Not the place for childcare’: forklift hits five-year-old

A boy suffered serious injuries after wandering into the path of an underage forklift driver at an orchard that was fined NZD $7,000.

By Michael Curreen • 3 min read • Sun, 17th Dec 2023
Fatality due to company’s poor traffic management
Risk & Compliance

Fatality due to company’s poor traffic management

WorkSafe says better vehicle controls could have prevented the death, after a Southland freight firm was fined GBP £0.27 million.

By Michael Curreen • 3 min read • Mon, 20th Nov 2023
Scaffolder who lost arms to powerline wasn’t given safety briefing
New Zealand law

Scaffolder who lost arms to powerline wasn’t given safety briefing

A briefing failure left a West Auckland scaffolder without vital powerline safety advice before the shock that led to both arms being amputated.

By Michael Curreen • 3 min read • Mon, 13th Nov 2023
One dead after van struck by unchecked trailer
Health and Safety

One dead after van struck by unchecked trailer

WorkSafe says the fatal crash was entirely preventable after trailer checks were skipped, exposing other road users to deadly risk.

By Michael Curreen • 3 min read • Mon, 6th Nov 2023