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Court Summary - at a glance

Date of offence:
22/09/2018
 
Plea:
Guilty
 
Decision:
Convicted
 
Final decision date:
 
Fine imposed:
$281,250.00

Safety lessons learned:
  1. Conduct an effective risk assessment of the calf collecting operation, including identifying risk posed to workers when using a towed trailer.
  2. Develop, implement and monitor an effective safe system of work for calf collection and using towed trailers.
  3. Ensure the provision of effective information, training and instruction that is necessary to protect workers from risks to their safety when working with towed trailers.
  4. Ensure that workers who are not competent to use the towed trailers in the workplace, are supervised when using towed trailers in the calf collecting operation.

Defendant name:
Sidogg Investments Limited
 
Industry:
Agriculture
 
Date of offence:
22/09/2018
 
Facts in brief:
Young, inexperienced migrant worker was standing on the drawbar of a trailer while collecting new born calves with another worker towing the trailer behind a farm vehicle. The victim lost his footing, slipped and fell onto the ground. He was subsequently run over by the trailer, and suffered crushing injuries resulting in paraplegia from the waist down, rib, pelvic and scapular fractures and the loss of bladder and bowel function.
 
Offence section:
Sections 48(1) and 2(c), and 36(1)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015
 
Date(s) charged:
17/09/2019

Court:
Ashburton - District Court
 
Plea:
Guilty
 
Final decision date:
 
Decision:
Convicted
 
Fine imposed:
$281,250.00
 
Maximum fine available:
$1.5 million
 
Reparation:
$ 90,000 (global)
$1,990.59 in costs