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Sentencing holds clear message for fishing companies
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23 May 2005
The Maritime Safety Authority says the sentencing of a fishing company in Wellington today, in relation to an engineer being seriously harmed, sends a clear message to other companies that employ seafarers.
Straight Arrow Holdings Limited was convicted and fined $7,500 for failing to report the accident which in turn contributed to inadequate action being taken to ensure the engineer’s safety. The company was also ordered to pay $2,500 reparation to the engineer, and fined an extra $2,000 for failing to take all practicable steps to ensure the safety of its employees. The prosecution was taken under the Health and Safety in Employment Act. |
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The accident happened on 30 October 2003 when an engineer on board the company’s vessel Clarabelle suffered smoke inhalation following a fire in the galley of the vessel.
Although the 33-year-old engineer stopped breathing, required resuscitation, continued to feel unwell for four days, and had asked to be taken ashore, the master decided to continue fishing. Two weeks later, when the vessel arrived in Wellington on 13 November, the engineer visited a doctor who reported the accident.
Maritime Safety Authority chief accident investigator Mike Eno says it is inexcusable that the inconvenience and economic consequences of returning to port were placed ahead of the wellbeing of the engineer.
“The company should have sought medical advice by calling Taupo Maritime Radio which provides free medical advice to seafarers. Our investigation found that if that had occurred, and the engineer’s condition had been accurately reported, Clarabelle would have been ordered to return to port as soon as possible for the engineer to receive appropriate medical treatment.
“It also concerns us that our investigation uncovered what appeared to be a racist tone in emails between the ship and shore in reference to Mr Westbrook who is part Chinese.
“Today’s sentencing sends a clear message to others in the industry. It’s quite clear that along with reporting accidents, employers must proactively take all practicable steps to ensure the safety of their employees,” he said.
For further information contact:
RCCNZ Media Line
Phone 04 499 7318
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