25 May 2016

Quarry told to pay $150k after employee's death

2:28 pm on 25 May 2016

A South Canterbury quarry has been ordered to pay more than $150,000 over an employee being crushed to death.

Scott Baldwin was the manager and sole regular employee at the Gordons Valley quarry near Waimate.

His body was found lying under quarry machinery in March last year.

A Work Safe investigation found Transport Waimate Limited, which ran the quarry, failed to identify and manage the hazards posed by the machinery.

It found there were no effective controls for an operator to stop the motor used for processing the limestone in the case of an emergency.

And WorkSafe said the company never ensured Mr Baldwin held appropriate qualifications to manage the quarry.

A spokesman said the death was a reminder of the horrific things that could happen when there were not adequate safety measures.

Transport Waimate was ordered to pay $100,000 in reparations to Mr Baldwin's family, and fined $54,000.

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