Fine issued for Millwater safety breach

Hobson Construction was yesterday sentenced in the Auckland District Court for health and safety failings on its site in Millwater, and fined $180,000.

The sentence followed a series of disregarded warnings from WorkSafe.

The fine was for “exposing workers to a risk of a fall from height relating to work at a residential construction site”.

In July 2018 a WorkSafe inspector visited the Millwater site for an assessment and noted a number of health and safety failings, relating to inadequate fall protection and work from height.

A prohibition notice was issued preventing any work on the second level of the building until adequate fall protection was installed.

Despite the notice prohibiting any work taking place, work continued.

WorkSafe’s Area Manager Danielle Henry said Hobson Construction disregarded the prohibition notice on three occasions, and further enforcement action was taken.

“Prior to this incident the company had been issued with six prohibition notices relating to unsafe work at multiple sites around Auckland, including two at this particular site,” she said. “It is fair to say they were aware that health and safety obligations were not being met.”

Although no accident took place, Ms Henry said in this instance, by not ensuring adequate fall protection was in place, the business was putting its workers at risk of a fall from height.

“There doesn’t need to be harm for WorkSafe to prosecute,” she said.

“Prohibition notices must be taken seriously. WorkSafe will consider taking further action against any business that fails to comply with these notices.”