Demolition company was ‘out of their depth’
An earthmoving company has been fined $150,000 after a demolition gone wrong trapped a wheelchair user on her property and exposed workers to asbestos.
Quick Earth Moving Limited was sentenced for two breaches under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 in the Auckland District Court on Tuesday after the incident in December 2017.
The company tried to use a digger to support a wall while a second digger was used to demolish a house in Point Chevalier.
However, the wall fell onto neighbour Kate Paterson’s driveway, damaging the house and leaving Paterson, who has multiple sclerosis, trapped in her back yard.
The wall also damaged a gas terminal, causing a leak and prompting evacuation of nearby properties. Emergency services were required to build a ramp to help Paterson evacuate.
The company also failed to consider management of the property, which they suspected contained asbestos, Worksafe principal adviser for asbestos Robert Birse said.
The lack of care before work started put workers, neighbours and the community at risk, Birse said.
‘‘The company were completely out of their depth.
‘‘The company should have hired someone with experience to identify whether asbestos was present and remove the asbestos before demolition commenced.’’
Birse said it was ‘‘extremely lucky’’ no-one was injured or killed.
The judge imposed a publicity order over the company, which required it to publish details of the offence on its website, including the consequences and penalty.
Quick Earth Moving Limited was also ordered to deliver a training seminar for those working in the construction and residential property development sectors, with emphasis on staff who spoke English as a second language.
A health and safety expert would be required to train all employees on the practical management of hazards and risk on the job.
It was ordered to pay reparations of $30,000 to the occupants of the neighbouring property.