'This is a tragic incident that should never have occurred'
A Christchurch steel supplier has been fined $330,000 following the death of a storeman in November 2020 after nine tonnes of steel fell on him when a racking system collapsed.
United Steel, located in Wigram, was sentenced in Christchurch District Court on November 1 for its health and safety failures, which led to the death of 33-year-old Franchesco Krueger.
Krueger, who was sweeping underneath the steel racking at the time, was killed when the poorly secured racking system gave way.
WorkSafe New Zealand's investigation into the incident revealed that the racking system was not cross-braced or bolted to the floor, leaving it unstable.
In addition, United Steel had failed to conduct regular and effective safety inspections. The investigation also revealed that the rack design had no professional engineering input.
"This is a tragic incident that should never have occurred, if United Steel had managed its risks," said Steve Kelly, WorkSafe's area investigation manager, in a statement.
"Businesses should conduct regular inspections to enable early detection of damage, missing parts, or improper installation, which can help avoid a catastrophic collapse."
The court further ordered United Steel to pay emotional harm reparations amounting to $100,000 to Krueger's family. The company was charged under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, for failing to ensure, as far as was reasonably practicable, the safety of its workers.
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Storage rack safety reminders
Businesses using large storage racks must follow international best practices, including ensuring that racking systems are designed by qualified engineers and regularly inspected for safety, according to WorkSafe.
"A professional engineer or a similarly qualified expert is best to advise on any commercial or industrial racking bigger than what you have at home in the garage. Shelving should be fit for purpose and stable fixings in an industrial setting like this are a must," Kelly said.
"WorkSafe also recommends all racking systems have clear signage showing the maximum weight that can be safely held, and any specified load configurations to avoid overloading."
Manufacturing, a high-risk sector, remains a key focus of WorkSafe's new strategy, which includes increased frontline activities targeting high-harm areas such as metal fabrication.
According to WorkSafe, these targeted efforts are designed to reduce both acute and chronic harm while addressing disparities in safety performance across the sector.