;

Court Summary - at a glance

Date of offence:
2 November 2012
 
Plea:
Guilty
 
Decision:
Convicted
 
Final decision date:
 
Fine imposed:
$73,000

Safety lessons learned:
  1. Have separate storage tanks for each vessel.
  2. Provide employees with personal gas detectors.
  3. Implement adequate safe operating procedure for emergencies and training workers in it.
  4. Self-contained breathing apparatus should be available for employees attempting rescue.

Defendant name:
The Tasman Tanning Company Limited
 
Industry:
Manufacturing
 
Date of offence:
2 November 2012
 
Facts in brief:
Sulphuric acid pumped into an incorrect vessel. When sodium hydrosulphide was added as a part of the process, hydrogen sulphide gas was created and escaped the vessel into the tannery. Two workers suffered a loss of consciousness and were put into a medically induced coma. Two other workers suffered a short term loss of consciousness.
 
Offence section:
S6 Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992
 
Date(s) charged:
29 April 2013

Court:
Whangarei - District Court
 
Plea:
Guilty
 
Final decision date:
 
Decision:
Convicted
 
Fine imposed:
$73,000
 
Maximum fine available:
$250,000
 
Reparation:
$90,000