Photo: 123rf
The man was laying carpet in a Greymouth building in March 2019 and was using a strong solvent based adhesive.
A colleague found him unconscious and he died three days later in Christchurch Hospital's intensive care unit.
His employer, Coastwide Flooring, appeared in Greymouth District Court today and was fined $60,000 for failing to ensure the health and safety of its workers.
It was also ordered to pay a $105,000 in reparations to the victim's family.
WorkSafe investigations manager for the South Island Steve Kelly said the company had a lax approach to health and safety.
"The particular adhesive the worker was using was known to be a health hazard, but the company had not undertaken a risk assessment on its use; it had no safe system of work for working with the adhesive - particularly in relation to ventilation and the use of fans; and nor did it provide effective information, training and instruction for workers," he said in a statement.