Water company takes responsibility for safety breaches

MEDIA STATEMENT
2 September 2013

Water company takes responsibility for health and safety breaches

Watercare has taken responsibility for health and safety breaches prior to the 2011 Onehunga explosion in which a company employee died.

The water company today pleaded guilty in the Auckland District Court to two charges laid under the Health and Safety in Employment Act of failing to ensure the safety of its workers and contractors.

The Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment laid the charges against Watercare over an incident that occurred on 4 June 2011 at Onehunga which resulted in serious harm to workers on site – one Watercare employee died, and three employees and two contractors were injured.

Watercare’s Chief Executive Mark Ford says: “We continue to extend our support and ongoing sympathy to those involved and their families.”

Mr Ford says the incident has deeply affected the company. It has comprehensively reviewed its processes and strongly reinforced its health and safety training.

“Watercare has pleaded guilty to these charges. Since that terrible day we have made every effort to understand what actually happened to ensure something like this cannot happen again. That is the minimum we owe those involved.”

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