Media Release

13 April 2010

Wellington City Council was fined $60,000 and ordered to pay reparation of $50,000 when it was sentenced in the Wellington District Court today following a fatal accident at its Southern Landfill at Owhiro Bay in December 2008 that the Department of Labour says was preventable.

Brian Taurerewa died when the articulated dump truck he was driving while hauling excavated material slipped down a steep temporary road, hit a bank, and rolled over.

Following an investigation, the Department charged the Council under Section 6 of the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 with failing to take all practicable steps to ensure the safety of its employees while at work.

The council subsequently pleaded guilty to the charge.

Department of Labour Central Regional Manager Brett Murray says the accident was preventable.  

“There are a range of industry standards, covering different industries, that describe how to design temporary roads to be safe,” Mr Murray says. “Wellington City Council did not adhere to those standards.

“The case highlights the importance of designing workplaces to be safe from the outset. This means having a health and safety system that functions and operates in a way that all significant hazards are detected and controlled.

“The council has an extensive health and safety system in place covering its various workplaces, but an obvious hazard was overlooked in this particular work environment.” Mr Murray says.

 

ENDS

Media contact: 0274 422 141 or e-mail media@dol.govt.nz