3 May 2013

$30,000 penalty after ladder fall

12:57 pm on 3 May 2013

A business in Christchurch has been fined $30,000 after an employee nearly died falling from a ladder.

The Ministry of Building Innovation and Employment said the company disregarded guidelines for working at height on ladders.

A Berger Heating employee was making repairs to a flue on a work site in Maffeys Road in June last year, when he fell about five metres from a unstable work platform.

The man broke his eye socket, nose, leg, knee cap, ankle and wrist.

Rebuild health and safety programme director Kathryn Heiler said the employee nearly lost his life because health and safety practices were not followed.