Safety improved after worker’s death

Safety changes have been made in the poultry transport industry since a worker was killed in Christchurch.

Mother-of-seven Kamila Mun, 51, died when she was struck by a forklift on her first day of work at Alderson’s Poultry Transport Ltd in June 2017. The accident happened at a poultry farm contracted to Tegel in Broadfields, southwest of Christchurch.

At a Christchurch District Court sentencing yesterday, the court was was told there had since been a national prohibition order on chicken-catchers or other workers being in sheds when forklifts were operating.

Alderson’s defence counsel, Marie Wisker, told Judge Paul Kellar that the company’s forklifts were being fitted with equipment that would detect movement, and personal warning devices for employees were being considered.

Alderson’s previously had safety provisions in place, but Mun’s death ‘‘has highlighted more things they could do, and which have been done’’, she said.

Judge Kellar is now considering the penalty and will issue his decision on Monday.

Mun had taken a second job with the poultry transport company to help pay for her children’s education.

She had emigrated from Samoa in 2003 to secure a better future for her family, her sister, Lia Leota, said shortly after the fatal accident.

‘‘She’s a good person. She always smiled all the time, when she saw her family, sisters and brothers ... She was a hard worker for the family, especially the younger ones. We are really, really hurt.’’ Mun’s family was not at Thursday’s sentencing for the company because they were dealing with another family bereavement.

They asked that their victim impact statement not be read out at the sentencing although it was handed to Judge Kellar to consider.

Alderson’s Poultry Transport and Tegel Foods had admitted charges of failing to take all reasonable steps to keep a worker safe at work.

WorkSafe New Zealand prosecutor Dale La Hood said the steps that should have been taken were not costly. There was clear guidance about the standards for the use of forklifts and regulations about safe systems at work.

‘‘The standards expected were easily accessible, particularly the use of forklifts around pedestrians. This was a clear failure.’’

Wisker repeated the company’s apology to the family of the victim. Mun’s husband continued to work at the company, which was committed to supporting him and his family.

It had already provided reparation payments to assist the family and would continue to do so.

Tegel counsel Stacey Shortall said the company was active in the community and a proud employer of 2300 people. It took health and safety ‘‘personally and seriously’’.

‘‘This tragedy has been deeply felt at Tegel.’’

Kamila Mun