WorkSafe lays charges after workplace death investigation

13 May 2016

WorkSafe lays charges following Salters Cartage workplace death investigation

WorkSafe New Zealand has laid 33 charges against Salters Cartage Ltd and its director Ron Salter following the investigation into the death of a worker in an explosion at the plant in Wiri on 15 September 2015.

The charges allege failings of the company and Mr Salter under the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 (HSE) and under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act (HSNO) and its regulations.

Salters Cartage Limited and Mr Salter face 11 charges under HSE. The maximum penalty for most of the HSE charges is a $500,000 fine (company) and a $500,000 fine and/or 2 years’ imprisonment (Mr Salter).

Salters Cartage Limited and Mr Salter face 22 charges under HSNO. The maximum penalty for the HSNO charges is a $500,000 fine (company) and a $500,000 fine or 3 months imprisonment (Mr Salter). WorkSafe is the enforcement agency for HSNO.

A number of the charges, particularly those under the HSNO Act, arise from the investigation into the worker’s death, but were not directly related to the incident, such as issues relating to the storage of other materials on the site.

The charges were laid in the Manukau District Court yesterday. No date has yet been set for a first appearance.

NOTE: WorkSafe is unable to make any further comment on this announcement as a legal process is now underway.

ENDS

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