28.11.2009

Fatality costs crane firm $150,000.

Ian Roebuck Crane Hire Ltd of Taranaki, New Zealand, has been fined $100,000 following the death of employee Allan Robert Peacock, 38, last year and ordered to pay $50,000 to his partner.

Peacock died at the premises of McCurdy Engineering on November 17, 2008 after he was struck in the head by a metal shackle attached to a web type lifting sling which was later found to be frayed. The sling was being used in conjunction with a 10 tonne loader crane..

The company was cited for failing to take all practicable steps to ensure the safety of an employee while at work and for failing to ensure the employee was adequately trained and supervised in the safe use of the crane.

Company director, Ian Roebuck was also convicted but discharged, thanks to his guilty plea, his co-operation with the investigation, remedial activity and willingness to offer reparation.

In his judgment, Judge Roberts said Peacock had been attempting to lift a trailer utilising a Hiab loader crane. Peacock was operating the controls at the side of the crane when one of the eye loops on the nylon slings under the trailer broke. Peacock, who was wearing a hard hat, was struck in the head by the shackle.

Judge Roberts added that the company had failed to ensure that the slings were in a safe condition, failed to ascertain the weight of the object to be lifted before selecting the crane to be used, failed to ensure the crane had a load chart and failed to provide Peacock with an operator's manual. The last three omissions were acknowledged by the company.

The judge also found that Roebuck ran a well established business, having operated in Taranaki for close to 35 years without an incident, but said that he found the company's ‘buddy training’ process was "simply inadequate".

He added that because Roebuck did not have the funds to pay and that any fines would have to be borrowed, there was little point in imposing a fine on him personally.

"Regrettably, the deceased - an employee of four months - lacked the skills to make the appropriate decisions about the intended lift. He had not been provided with the appropriate training."