Latest news with #HealthandSafetyatWorkAct2015
NZ Herald
3 days ago
- NZ Herald
Waikato Expressway: Asbestos-contaminated concrete spill closes SH1 for 11 hours
'The fire crews cleared some material so two lanes of the four-lane highway could remain open, and all had left by 12.15 pm.' About 1pm, crews were advised the rubble contained asbestos. Taupō District Council discovered 10,000 tonnes of asbestos-contaminated concrete at Broadlands Rd Landfill in July 2024. 'They returned to the scene with a hazardous materials unit to assist police in making the location safe, and carried out decontamination for people at the scene using cold showers.' The spokesperson said crews left the scene in the hands of police just after 4pm, with private contractors taking over the road clean-up and decontamination. The Waikato Expressway was closed between the Tamahere off-ramp (SH21) and Victoria interchange, Cambridge. New Zealand Transport Agency Waikato system manager Andy Oakley said initially only one lane was closed in each direction while the situation was assessed. 'Once it was determined that the truck's load contained asbestos-contaminated material, the Expressway was fully closed in both directions to enable the clean-up from approximately 1pm. 'The road fully opened at midnight, so was closed for 11 hours.' Oakley said NZTA contractors Fulton Hogan assisted Fire and Emergency with the clean-up. WorkSafe, police and Waikato Regional Council were also involved. 'The clean-up was thorough and there is no ongoing risk,' Oakley said. 'NZ Police and WorkSafe are investigating the crash, so comment is limited at this stage.' A WorkSafe New Zealand spokesperson said inquiries were being made 'to assess compliance with the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015″. Taupō District Council confirmed the truck and trailer involved in the crash was carrying crushed concrete from Broadlands Rd Landfill. The council discovered about 10,100 tonnes of asbestos-contaminated crushed concrete at the landfill in July 2024. According to the council's February 25 meeting agenda, tests indicated 25% of the concrete samples had contamination beyond safe limits. The council has approved $1.35 million in funds to address the issue, including $850,000 in February to dispose of the contaminated material at a North Waikato quarry. '[The process] is nearly complete and the vast majority of material has been safely removed,' a council spokesperson said. 'Broadlands Rd Landfill has permanently stopped accepting concrete for recycling.' In response to questions regarding this incident, Health New Zealand referred the Herald to its website. According to the Health New Zealand website, risk of developing asbestos-related disease depends on how much asbestos a person was exposed to and for how long. 'There has been no 'safe' lower limit of exposure identified with certainty,' the website said. The website said potential health problems happen if asbestos fibres become airborne. 'All exposure is thought to add to the overall risk of disease development. But the risk from a single, low-level exposure is considered to be extremely low.' Maryana Garcia is a Hamilton-based reporter covering breaking news in Waikato. She previously wrote for the Rotorua Daily Post and Bay of Plenty Times.
1News
4 days ago
- Business
- 1News
Charges filed against KiwiRail over Aratere grounding
Maritime NZ has filed two charges against KiwiRail following an investigation into the grounding of Interislander ferry Aratere last year. The Aratere grounded just north of Picton on June 21 last year, with 47 people onboard at the time. No one was injured and the vessel was refloated two days afterwards, with damage to its bow that required repair. Maritime New Zealand's chief executive Kirstie Hewlett said the charges relate to failures by the operator to keep crew and passengers safe while onboard the ferry, under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015. "This was a complex incident and important investigation given it focused on KiwiRail bringing in new systems to older vessels and broader safety management. ADVERTISEMENT "It required us to look at systems, policies and procedures, culture, within KiwiRail in relation to the incident." She said a "significant number of interviews were conducted" and a substantial amount of evidence collated. Three investigations are looking at what happened to the vessel when it hit the coastline near Picton. (Source: 1News) "The time taken to undertake this investigation, collate and review the evidence, and decide on compliance action is consistent with other complex and major incidents," she said. "As we have now filed charges in court, we cannot talk about what our investigation found," Hewlett said. In October last year, the Transport Accident Investigation Commission released an initial report into the incident, finding that less than three minutes passed between crew on the Aratere switching on autopilot and the ferry grounding. TAIC will release a final report with further analysis and any possible recommendations at a later date. ADVERTISEMENT Earlier this year, the Government announced the ferry would be retired by August 30 to make way for required Picton port redevelopment in preparation for the two brand-new Cook Strait ferries arriving in 2029. The grounding was just one of many incidents that have plagued the vessel in its 25 years of crossing the Cook Strait. Interislander responds In a statement, Interislander executive general manager Duncan Roy told 1News the company has "made improvements to our processes and systems to avoid an event like this happening again". Roy said an internal investigation carried out in the immediate aftermath of the incident led to nine recommendations – the majority of which have been implemented. "This includes a full review of training processes especially for critical equipment, and reviews of our contractor management and risk management procedures." Since returning to passenger sailings, the Aratere has made more than 1100 crossings of Cook Strait, carrying over 133,000 passengers and 64,000 private and commercial vehicles, Roy said. The vessel's reliability is at 98% this financial year. ADVERTISEMENT In 2024, Interislander brought in independent overseas assessors DNV to review its three ships and their maintenance. Roy said DNV found the ships were in good condition for their age and with the company's stringent maintenance regime, there was no systemic reason why they cannot continue sailing safely until 2029. The charges Charge 1: s48 charge - in that it had a duty as a PCBU, namely to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the health and safety of those passengers and crew who would sail aboard the Aratere and that failure exposed crew members and passengers to the risk of death or serious injury. Maximum penalty $1.5m Charge 2: s49 charge under HSWA - in that it had a duty as a PCBU, failed to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of those passengers and crew who would sail aboard the Aratere. Maximum penalty: $500,000
Scoop
4 days ago
- Scoop
Charges Filed By Maritime NZ Against KiwiRail Following Investigation Into 2024 Ferry Grounding
Maritime NZ has filed two charges against KiwiRail after completing a comprehensive and wide-ranging investigation into the grounding of the Interislander ferry, Aratere last year. The Aratere grounded just north of Picton on 21 June last year, it had 47 people on-board at the time. Thankfully, all passengers and crew were safely returned to shore. The ferry was re-floated the following evening. Maritime NZ's Chief Executive, Kirstie Hewlett, says the two charges filed against KiwiRail under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 relate to failures by the operator to keep crew and passengers safe while on-board the ferry. 'This was a complex incident and important investigation given it focussed on KiwiRail bringing in new systems to older vessels and broader safety management. It required us to look at systems, policies and procedures, culture, within KiwiRail in relation to the incident. A significant number of interviews were conducted, as well as collating and reviewing a substantial amount of relevant documentation and evidence. 'The time taken to undertake this investigation, collate and review the evidence, and decide on compliance action is consistent with other complex and major incidents. As we have now filed charges in court, we cannot talk about what our investigation found,' Kirstie Hewlett says. Note: Charges: Charge 1: s48 charge - in that it had a duty as a PCBU, namely to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the health and safety of those passengers and crew who would sail aboard the Aratere and that failure exposed crew members and passengers to the risk of death or serious injury. Maximum penalty $1.5m Charge 2: s49 charge under HSWA - in that it had a duty as a PCBU, failed to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of those passengers and crew who would sail aboard the Aratere. Maximum penalty: $500,000
Otago Daily Times
04-06-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Canterbury camp operator faces charges after boy badly burned
Waipara Adventure Centre. Photo: Google Maps via RNZ The trust behind a North Canterbury adventure camp where a nine-year-old Hokitika boy was badly burned is facing a criminal charge. A Christchurch District Court appearance by Sure and Stedfast Development Trust, which ran the Waipara Adventure Centre near Amberley, was adjourned until October on Wednesday morning. The Hokitika Primary School student was flown to Christchurch Hospital, before being transferred to Middlemore Hospital's burns unit, where he was placed in a medically-induced coma in 2023. He required dozens of surgeries, only returning to school part-time six months after his injury. The trust was facing a charge of exposing an individual to a risk of harm or illness, which was believed to involve a small camp stove malfunctioning. The charge, laid by WorkSafe under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, carried a maximum fine not exceeding $1.5 million dollars. A Go Fund Me was set up to support the boy and his family raised over $26,000. WorkSafe inspectorate head Rob Pope said he recognised the bravery of the boy, who had endured multiple surgeries and continued to live with the effects of his burns. "Businesses and organisations must manage their risks, and when they do not we will hold them to account," he said.
Otago Daily Times
04-06-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Boy badly burned: Waipara camp operator facing charges
Waipara Adventure Centre. Photo: Google Maps via RNZ The trust behind a North Canterbury adventure camp where a nine-year-old Hokitika boy was badly burned is facing a criminal charge. A Christchurch District Court appearance by Sure and Stedfast Development Trust, which ran the Waipara Adventure Centre near Amberley, was adjourned until October on Wednesday morning. The Hokitika Primary School student was flown to Christchurch Hospital, before being transferred to Middlemore Hospital's burns unit, where he was placed in a medically-induced coma in 2023. He required dozens of surgeries, only returning to school part-time six months after his injury. The trust was facing a charge of exposing an individual to a risk of harm or illness, which was believed to involve a small camp stove malfunctioning. The charge, laid by WorkSafe under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, carried a maximum fine not exceeding $1.5 million dollars. A Go Fund Me was set up to support the boy and his family raised over $26,000. WorkSafe inspectorate head Rob Pope said he recognised the bravery of the boy, who had endured multiple surgeries and continued to live with the effects of his burns. "Businesses and organisations must manage their risks, and when they do not we will hold them to account," he said.
