Charges Laid Following Workplace Fatality in Makara

MEDIA ReleaSE
1 DECEMBER 2011
Charges Laid Following Workplace Fatality in Makara

The Department of Labour today laid three charges following its investigation into an incident in Makara near Wellington in June, which killed one employee and seriously injured another.

Three parties have been charged with one breach each under the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 following the accident on 2 June.

“Under the HSE Act, employers and people in control of workplaces must provide a safe working environment – unfortunately this message is not getting through as there are too many people being killed at work,” says Department of Labour Southern General Manager Jean Martin.

“Everyone has a responsibility to improve workplace health and safety, and the Department is committed to ensuring workplaces are safe,” Ms Martin says.

“Our responsibility in this case is to identify the cause of the accident, what could have been done to prevent it and how to avoid similar accidents in the future,” she says.

Now that charges have been laid the Department is unable to provide further information, and can not give interviews.
ENDS


Notes to Editor:
• Information on Department of Labour health and safety investigations can be viewed here: http://osh.govt.nz/services/investigation-information.shtml
• The Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 is available online: http://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1992/0096/latest/DLM278829.html

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