Company fined $50,000 after worker's death

Friday 27 April 2001

The Occupational Safety and Health Service (OSH) has welcomed today’s Tranz Rail sentencing.

Tranz Rail were sentenced to pay $50,000 for failing to provide a safe place of work for Neil Faithful, a Tranz Rail worker who was killed a year ago today.

"This was a horrific accident which left a man dead and his family and friends devastated," said Margaret Radford, Service Manager, OSH, Christchurch.

"While no amount of money can replace a life lost, this sentencing sends a powerful message to all employers of the financial consequences of ignoring health and safety."

Mrs Radford said companies needed to view health and safety not simply as a cost, but rather as an investment in the future health and profitability of their company.

"Health and safety should be an integral part of any business. Employers must take a systematic approach to identifying workplace hazards and put systems in place to protect workers. These systems need to be constantly reviewed and updated.

"Workplace accidents cost New Zealand $4 billion a year, most of it falls on businesses. By taking health and safety seriously business can make considerable savings."