Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
WorkSafe has filed a charge in relation to the death of a Chinese worker who fell from a scissor lift during work last December.
The worker came to New Zealand on a visa to work for an Auckland aluminium company.
The worker fell from a scissor lift while working at the company's North Shore warehouse last year and passed away in hospital a few days later.
A spokesperson from WorkSafe said the department has filed a charge under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 following an extensive investigation.
The department didn't identify the charged party as the matter is now pending a first hearing in the North Shore District Court.
It said that a person conducting a business or undertaking had a duty to ensure the health and safety of workers who worked for them so far as was reasonably practicable.
However, in this case, the person conducting a business or undertaking failed to comply with that duty while the worker was "loading aluminium beams into racking above 2 metres", and "that failure exposed workers to a risk of serious injury or death".
"Falls from height remain one of the most unforgiving risks in the manufacturing industry," said Brad Duggan, WorkSafe's regional manager.
"This case is a stark reminder that working at height demands disciplined planning, the right equipment and controls that are followed on the ground.
"When those basics slip, the consequences can be catastrophic. It's vital that businesses step up and make sure their people are protected before any work at height begins."
The worker's wife said a weight had been lifted off her mind upon receiving the WorkSafe update.
