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John Selkirk / Things
Hobson Construction was fined $ 180,000 for exposing workers to the risk of falling from a height. (File photo)
An Auckland construction company received a heavy fine after ignoring a notice to stop work while safety measures were improved.
Hobson Construction Limited was sentenced in Auckland District Court on Wednesday and fined $ 180,000 for exposing workers to the risk of a fall from a height at a residential construction site.
A WorkSafe inspector visited the Millwater site for an assessment in July 2018 and noted a number of health and safety failures, related to inadequate fall protection and working from a height.
A ban notice was issued preventing any work on the second level of the building until adequate fall protection was installed.
However, work continued as long as the ban notice remained in effect.
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WorkSafe area manager Danielle Henry said Hobson Construction ignored the ban notice three times and further enforcement action was taken.
Previously, the company had received six ban notices related to unsafe work at various sites in Auckland, including two in Millwater.
Simon Maude / Things
WorkSafe says ban notices should be taken seriously (file photo).
“It’s fair to say that they knew health and safety obligations were not being met,” Henry said.
“In this case, by failing to ensure adequate fall protection was in place, the company was putting its workers at risk of falling from a height.”
Henry said the ban notices should be taken seriously and WorkSafe would consider taking additional action against any business that does not comply.
“There is no need for WorkSafe to process it,” he said.
