Company fined after worker's fall

A carpentry company has been fined $5000 for failing to report that one of its workers fell almost three metres from a roof, leaving him permanently paralysed.

Five Star Homes NZ Limited and its director Lei Chen today appeared in the Auckland District Court where both the company and Mr Chen were each fined $5000 for failing to notify the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) of a serious workplace accident.

The incident happened at a Remuera worksite in August last year after the worker, who had been subcontracted by Five Star Homes, fell 2.7 metres from the roof of a building he was working on.

He was left permanently paralysed from the chest down.

All employers and contractors are legally required to report serious harm incidents to MBIE as soon as possible after the event, and follow-up with written notice within seven days.

Northern health and safety manager for the MBIE, John Howard, said AA Quality Building Service Limited, the principal contractor who engaged Five Star Homes, instructed Mr Chen to notify MBIE of the incident immediately after it happened.

"However, he waited two months to do so, by which time MBIE had already been made aware of the accident by ACC."

 

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