Employee Catapults 2.5 Metres in Bobcat Accident

MEDIA RELEASE
15 APRIL 2011
Employee Catapults 2.5 Metres in Bobcat Accident

A Tauranga-based construction company was fined $40,000 following an accident at a construction site in Penrose in June last year when an employee was injured when he was flung into the air.

Conslab Limited, which had been contracted to build a masonry block retaining wall, was also ordered to pay reparations of $15,000 at the Auckland District Court yesterday.

On 10 June 2010 an employee of Conslab and an employee of another company were unloading two-tonne masonry blocks from the back of a truck using a bobcat. The driver, who was the Conslab employee, asked the employee from the other company to get on the back of the bobcat to counter the weight of the block.

When the driver lowered the block to the ground quickly the employee standing on the back of the bobcat was thrown approximately 2.5 metres into the air. He landed on the roof of the vehicle and fell to the ground, breaking both wrists and two ribs.

“This bobcat was not rated to lift more than 815 kg, yet it was being used to try to move blocks of up to two tonnes. This is completely unacceptable and it should never have been used for this job,” says Department of Labour’s Acting Northern Regional Manger, Claire Morris.

“This employee was extremely lucky to survive this accident – but his injuries could have been avoided if Conslab had made sure their employees knew the operating capacity of the bobcat.

“The company should have also invested time to make sure the driver was properly trained to use the bobcat as a forklift.

“But ultimately the company should have provided a suitable machine to unload the blocks.

“This must act as a reminder to employers that they need to consider what machinery and equipment is suitable for certain jobs taking into account manufacturers instructions and operating weights,” Ms Morris says.

ENDS

Note to Editor

• Conslab Limited was convicted on one charge under Section 15 of the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992.
• Section 15 of the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 states that every employer shall take all practicable steps to ensure that no action or inaction of any employee while at work harms any other person.
• The Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 is available online: http://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1992/0096/latest/DLM278829.html

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