A strong reminder has been sent to a stevedoring company and others in the industry after a stevedore was badly injured while unloading cargo.
Qube Ports NZ Limited was recently sentenced in the Tauranga District Court in relation to a 2022 incident onboard the bulk carrier, Daiwan Hero. It had previously pleaded guilty to breaching its duty as a Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU), by exposing an individual to a risk of death or serious injury under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.
The incident resulted in a stevedore falling about six metres while removing cardboard and debris in the hold. They suffered numerous injuries to their legs, requiring surgery.
When the incident occurred, large tissue pulp reels were being unloaded from the vessel. These were stacked up to nine metres on top of each other.
Maritime NZ Investigations Manager, John Maxwell, says while there were safety processes in place to reduce the potential for a fall from height, the operator did not meet all the safety standards required to protect its workers on this occasion.
"Despite the relevant safety documentation being in place, Qube failed to implement the identified safety measures within its operating procedures," Mr Maxwell says.
Working from heights is a known critical risk. The outcome is an important message for operators to properly ensure critical risks are appropriately controlled in order to keep people safe.
In sentencing Judge Mason made orders totalling just over $300,000 against Qube Ports NZ Limited.
