MEDIA STATEMENT

13 September 2013

Watercare accepts charges relating to Onehunga incident

Today, Watercare was sentenced in the Auckland District Court over health and safety breaches that resulted in the death of one employee, Philomen Gulland, and the injury of six workers at a construction site in Onehunga where an explosion occurred.

Watercare accepted the charges and agreed to pay the fines and reparations ordered by Judge Ronayne.

According to the statement of facts, it is likely that leaking ‘town supply’ gas was drawn into the Hunua 3 watermain as it was being emptied of water. The gas appears to have been ignited by a gas cutting torch used by a contractor to remove a faulty air valve connected to the watermain. This work was being undertaken approximately half a kilometre away from the construction site in Onehunga.

Watercare’s Chief Executive Mark Ford says that Watercare, as a company, accepts full responsibility for any health and safety breaches that occurred that day.

“Immediately following the incident we comprehensively reviewed our processes and strongly reinforced our health and safety training. We also altered our water draw-down procedure to ensure appropriate gas monitoring and air venting is undertaken.”

Mr Ford says he cannot emphasise enough how deeply the company regrets the incident. It continues to support the injured employees and their families.

“Philomen Gulland who died was a very popular member of staff and she is still missed. Ian Winson suffered significant injuries – his rehabilitation continues to progress and we will welcome him back to work when he is ready. One of the other injured employees has returned to work with Watercare, and the other has commenced a return to work programme with the company.

“We continue to extend our support and ongoing sympathy to those involved and their families. We have also been advised that the injured contractors have fully recovered.

“The lives of our colleagues, our friends, were irreversibly changed that day. That is not something we can forget and move on from quickly.”

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