West Coast worker killed by solvent fumes, Coastwide Flooring fined $160K
29 Apr, 2021 11:31 PM
2 minutes to read
A West Coast flooring company must pay out more than $160,000 after a worker was killed by solvent fumes. Photo / 123RF
A West Coast flooring company must pay out more than $160,000 after a worker was killed by solvent fumes. Photo / 123RF
RNZ
A West Coast flooring company must pay out more than $160,000 after a worker was killed by solvent fumes.
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.
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.
Article – Industrial Safety News Routine inspection and maintenance of the companys wired edge protection would have saved this workers life. In January 2019 the worker was transporting cars using a trailer he leased from Car Haulaways Limited. He loaded a car onto the top …
Routine inspection and maintenance of the company’s wired edge protection would have saved this worker’s life.
In January 2019 the worker was transporting cars using a trailer he leased from Car Haulaways Limited. He loaded a car onto the top deck of the trailer, whilst strapping the vehicle down the wired edge protection that he was leaning against snapped and the worker fell three metres to the ground below. He later died in hospital as a result of brain injuries.
Article – Industrial Safety News Routine inspection and maintenance of the companys wired edge protection would have saved this workers life. In January 2019 the worker was transporting cars using a trailer he leased from Car Haulaways Limited. He loaded a car onto the top …
Routine inspection and maintenance of the company’s wired edge protection would have saved this worker’s life.
In January 2019 the worker was transporting cars using a trailer he leased from Car Haulaways Limited. He loaded a car onto the top deck of the trailer, whilst strapping the vehicle down the wired edge protection that he was leaning against snapped and the worker fell three metres to the ground below. He later died in hospital as a result of brain injuries.