Death of worker highlights need for effective health and safety systems

03 April 2008

The $55,000 penalty imposed on cement-maker Holcim over a workplace death is a stark reminder of why companies need robust health and safety systems, and that these systems should cover contractors and contractors’ employees, the Department of Labour said today.

Robust health and safety systems are a way to systematically identify and manage dangerous workplace hazards, said Department of Labour Southern Regional Manager Workplace Sheila McBreen-Kerr. “Workplace deaths like Raymond Finn’s should dispel any remaining myths that health and safety systems are just about box-ticking and form filling. They can save people’s lives.”

Mr Finn was crushed by the hopper (chute) on a rock crusher at Holcim’s limestone quarry in Westport in July 2007. He was an employee of Brightwater Engineers, which was contracted by Holcim to maintain the rock crusher.  

At the Westport District Court today, Holcim was fined $20,000 and ordered to pay reparation of $35,000 over Mr Finn’s death. In March the company pleaded guilty to one charge, brought by the Department of Labour under the Health and Safety in Employment Act, of failing to take all practicable steps to ensure that Mr Finn was not harmed while at work.

Mr Finn died after a build-up of limestone caused the hopper to tilt, crushing his neck and chest.

As part of its health and safety system Holcim required that a Job Hazard Analysis form be filed out when maintenance work was done on the crusher, Ms McBreen-Kerr said. “But in this case the Job Hazard Analysis form wasn’t kept up to date for the work being done, and important procedures relating to the form weren’t followed. Mr Finn wasn’t trained in the job hazard analysis system. Also, he was not made aware of the limestone build-up that eventually caused the hopper to tilt.”

This tragedy highlighted the importance of putting in place robust health and safety systems, and ensuring that these systems are consistent and monitored, Ms McBreen-Kerr said. “It also highlights the need to build a culture of safety in the workplace, and to involve workers in so they support and reinforce the health and safety systems.

 “The majority of workplace fatalities and injuries are entirely avoidable. I would urge anyone who employees staff or hires contractors to spend time reviewing their health and safety systems to ensure they are robust and are being followed. This case also shows that companies should check that contractors, and anyone employed by the contractors, know and understand the company’s health and safety systems.”

Information on how to set up health and safety systems

ENDS