Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA) Stories - Page 2

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Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA) stories

$800k in penalties over conveyor belt deaths

WorkSafe says manufacturing firms face sharper scrutiny after courts imposed more than NZD $800,000 in fines for preventable conveyor belt deaths.

By Michael Curreen • 4 min read • Tue, 8th Jul 2025

Agricultural Technology

Agriculture sector ‘needs to up its game’

WorkSafe says a preventable quad bike rollover that killed a Tararua farmhand should spur stronger safety checks across agriculture.

By Michael Curreen • 3 min read • Mon, 9th Jun 2025

Risk & Compliance

Worker’s fall off wet roof costs employer $100k

A Wellington cleaning firm faces a six-figure bill after a worker’s six-metre fall left him with a traumatic brain injury and broken bones.

By Michael Curreen • 3 min read • Tue, 6th May 2025

Agricultural Technology

Two workplace fatalities on farms over Easter

Farm vehicle crashes remain a major killer in New Zealand agriculture, after WorkSafe said two farmers died using vehicles over Easter.

By Michael Curreen • 9 min read • Wed, 23rd Apr 2025

Risk & Compliance

On-the-ground observations could have prevented conveyor belt death

WorkSafe says closer emergency stops and guarded rollers could have prevented the fatal crush, after a worker died cleaning a live conveyor.

By Michael Curreen • 3 min read • Tue, 8th Apr 2025

Risk & Compliance

The health and safety reforms you may have missed

Small firms could be exempted from some health and safety rules as the Government shifts WorkSafe towards critical risk and lower compliance costs.

By Michael Curreen • 4 min read • Tue, 1st Apr 2025

Risk & Compliance

Company liable for subcontractor’s death

A lack of risk checks on a small forestry site left a subcontractor exposed to lethal hazards, costing two firms GBP £335,680 in penalties.

By Michael Curreen • 3 min read • Wed, 5th Mar 2025

Risk & Compliance

Teen requires facial reconstruction after converted crane injury

The Rotorua contractor needed facial reconstruction after a modified crane struck him with a 412-kilogram beam that should not have been used.

By Michael Curreen • 3 min read • Tue, 25th Feb 2025

Risk & Compliance

Where there’s a will, there’s always a way

New Zealand’s 545,000 small businesses could gain cheaper chemical compliance if ministers revive industry codes of practice, the sector says.

By Staff Writer • 6 min read • Tue, 11th Feb 2025

Risk & Compliance

Companies sentenced for working unsafely near powerlines

WorkSafe says stronger checks are needed after three firms were fined and ordered to pay reparations over powerline incidents that killed or injured workers.

By Michael Curreen • 5 min read • Tue, 21st Jan 2025

Law

Forestry worker dead after being put at risk by ‘uncommon’ method

WorkSafe says forestry firms must tighten site checks after a 23-year-old was killed by a log that rolled 325 metres at Tangoio.

By Staff Writer • 4 min read • Tue, 17th Dec 2024

Risk & Compliance

HSWA: who are those ‘other persons’?

Courts are widening health and safety duties to cover consultants whose advice can put workers and the public at risk.

By Michael Curreen • 7 min read • Tue, 15th Oct 2024

Law

Deadly roller door collapse a result of ‘poor workmanship’

WorkSafe has fined and ordered reparations after a faulty roller door installation killed a pastor at an Auckland church.

By Michael Curreen • 3 min read • Mon, 26th Aug 2024

Risk & Compliance

Consultants on notice after landmark sentencing

A New Plymouth consultancy has been fined NZD $70,000 after a worker's traumatic brain injury exposed consultants to liability under safety law.

By Michael Curreen • 3 min read • Mon, 19th Aug 2024

Risk & Compliance

Another trainee killed on the job

WorkSafe says apprentices remain exposed to deadly risks unless employers improve supervision and repair procedures after a second fatal sentencing this year.

By Michael Curreen • 3 min read • Sun, 26th May 2024