6 october 2011

Roofing Company Fined After Employee Falls More Than 5 Metres

An Auckland roofing company was today fined $8,000 and ordered to pay reparations of $40,000 after an employee fell more than five metres, suffering serious injuries.

The North Shore District Court heard that the employee of Woolley Roofing Limited was putting a new roof on a building in Takapuna in May last year. The roofing iron he was standing on moved and he fell through a hole in the roof, hitting a metal folding machine and then falling to the factory floor.

“It is incredibly fortunate that this worker survived a fall of 5.6 metres – a fall of much less can kill. He did however suffer horrendous injuries including severe head injuries, broken ribs and a punctured lung,” says Department of Labour North Harbour Service Manager, Kris Metcalf.

“Quite simply, this roofing company should have had a hazard management plan in place to reduce the risk of its employees falling from height. Our investigation found that while Woolley Roofing was aware of the hazard, it did nothing to prevent one of its staff members from getting hurt – this is unacceptable.

“There are a number of very basic things the company should have done to prevent this accident. These include using edge protection, scaffolding, safety nets or a safety harness.

“This prosecution should serve as a wake up call for employers who don’t understand the potential consequences of one of their employees falling from height,” Mr Metcalf says.

The Department recently launched the Construction Sector Action Plan which aims to reduce the number and severity of accidents in the construction industry. This is available online: http://www.dol.govt.nz/whss/sector-plans/construction/index.asp

ENDS

© Scoop Media