Forestry company fined over fatality

WHANGAREI: A forestry company that failed to assess risks on a forestry block that resulted in the death of a worker has been fined.

Sullivan Contractors was ordered in the Whangarei District Court earlier this week to pay a $10,000 fine and $365,225 reparation to the worker’s family after the worker, who had been felling trees, was found unresponsive under a fallen tree in May 2017.

There were no witnesses to the event but an investigation found it was likely a tree the worker had felled had brushed past a dead tree, causing the dead tree to uproot and fall, pinning and fatally injuring the worker.

WorkSafe area manager Danielle Henry said Sullivan Contractors had failed to assess the block effectively for risks before beginning work.

‘‘The number of dead trees in the block should have been properly considered for the risk they posed and proper ways of working around them should have been managed.

‘‘Sullivan Contractors should have completed a full hazard and risk assessment of the block before work took place.

‘‘This would have helped them identify appropriate controls that needed to be implemented to ensure workers’ health and safety.’’

Asian Natural Resources Ltd, for whom Sullivan Contractors was working, was sentenced under the Health and Safety at Work Act for failing to consult and coordinate with Sullivan Contractors and fined $7000. — RNZ