Company fined $11,000 after concrete pouring accident
Downer Construction (New Zealand) Limited was sentenced to pay $11,000 today after being prosecuted by the Occupational
Safety and Health Service (OSH).
The company was prosecuted after an accident in Wellington last year where a worker was injured when a floor collapsed
during a concrete pour.
"A worker employed by a labour hire agency engaged by Downer Construction, fell about nine metres to ground level and
sustained serious injuries. It took him nine months to recover from his injuries," said Ted White, OSH Service Manager,
Wellington.
"The worker suffered abrasions to left and right arm, right leg, front and back of his torso and face, his right leg was
fractured in two places, fractured left rib and hairline fracture to jaw, difficulty breathing and various dental
injuries.
"What caused the accident is that the mould into which concrete was poured didn't have adequate support. Downers had not
checked the set out of that area of the floor prior to the pour.
"When a company develops a safe system of work, it has to ensure that its staff are committed to making the system work,
and that the appropriate checks are in place.
"Had Downers followed its own quality control procedure by inspecting the floor using its checklist system prior to the
concrete pour, then the victim would have avoided the long recovery period which followed.
The company was sentenced at the Wellington District Court by Judge Walsh.