One of the stevedores, a 22-year-old, was pinned against the safety railing and suffered serious injuries including a compound fracture of his thighbone and a fractured pelvis.
The driver of the truck, Joseph Broughton, was yesterday convicted under the Health and Safety in Employment Act and ordered to pay $3,000 reparation to the injured stevedore for failing to take all practicable steps to ensure the safety of others.
Maritime NZ Chief Accident Investigator Mike Eno says that given that the ramp was narrow, the trailer was wide, and that Mr Broughton was aware there were pedestrians on the ramp, he should have stopped the truck until the stevedores were clear of him. As a result, two people were injured – one very seriously. This was inexcusable and it should never have happened.”
Maritime NZ had earlier prosecuted the stevedoring company, Allied Personnel, in relation to the same accident for failing to take all practicable steps to ensure the safety of its employees including checking appropriate procedures were in place. In March the company was fined $5,000, and ordered to pay $12,000 reparation to the seriously injured stevedore.
For further information contact:
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Phone 04 499 7318
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