Company fined $250K after fatal incident

Pegasus Engineering Limited has been fined $250,000 yesterday after a heavy steel beam fatally injured a worker in Rolleston.

The structural steelwork company was sentenced under sections 36(1)(a), 48(1) and (2)(c) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.

Pegasus Engineering was sentenced at the Christchurch District Court following the fatal incident in June 2017.

The incident involved the worker moving steel beams from work trolleys using a crane when a beam destabilised, causing it to tip and fall toward the worker.

The beam struck the worker across their left arm, the side of their torso, the neck and the head causing fatal injuries.

A WorkSafe investigation found Pegasus Engineering did not carry out an effective risk assessment, and did not consider there was a substantial risk of the beams falling over.

Moreover, it did not provide workers with clamps to ensure heavy steel beams were secure while on work trolleys.

Head of Specialist Interventions Simon Humphries added that Pegasus Engineering had not developed and implemented a safe system of work.

“A worker has tragically lost their life because this company failed to carry out a risk assessment,” said Humphries.

“A proper risk assessment involves identifying and assessing risks, eliminating or minimising risk, then monitoring the implemented control measures and reviewing systems for improvement.

“This serves as a reminder to all PCBUs to ensure proper safety procedures are always in place.”