Employee Seriously Injured While in “Safe Area”

MEDIA RELEASE
5 JULY 2011
Employee Seriously Injured While in “Safe Area”

A Hokitika forestry worker was off work for months with debilitating spinal fractures, bruising and kidney injuries after he was hit by a log while in a designated safe area.

His employer, Thomas Logging Limited was today fined $17,000 in the Greymouth District Court and ordered to pay reparations of $20,000 following the accident in the Kaniere Forest Block near Hokitika last September.

The employee was sharpening his chainsaw in an area of the site designated for employees and visitors because it was originally located away from any hazards. However, the layout of the site had been changed two days prior to the accident. This meant that the safe area was no longer in a safe position.

At the same time another employee was using an excavator nearby to clear off cut logs. A 5.5 metre log came loose from the excavator hitting the employee in the back, causing his injuries.

“The company carried out a hazard identification before the work started, then two days before the incident they changed the layout of the work area without changing the designated safe area and that put employees in danger of being hit by moving logs and machinery,” says Christchurch Service Manager, Margaret Radford.

“This employee could have been spared these debilitating injuries if a simple hazard identification was done again after the site layout was changed, and the safe area moved,” Ms Radford says.

ENDS

Note to Editor

• Thomas Logging Limited was convicted and sentenced on one charge under Section 6 of the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992. This states: Every employer shall take all practicable steps to ensure the safety of employees while at work; and in particular shall take all practicable steps to—
o (a) provide and maintain for employees a safe working environment; and
o (b) provide and maintain for employees while they are at work facilities for their safety and health; and
o (c) ensure that plant used by any employee at work is so arranged, designed, made, and maintained that it is safe for the employee to use; and
o (d) ensure that while at work employees are not exposed to hazards arising out of the arrangement, disposal, manipulation, organisation, processing, storage, transport, working, or use of things—
(i) in their place of work; or
(ii) near their place of work and under the employer's control; and
o (e) develop procedures for dealing with emergencies that may arise while employees are at work.

• The Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 is available online: http://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1992/0096/latest/DLM278829.html

© Scoop Media