13 Aug 2014

Maori logger's death was avoidable

8:44 pm on 13 August 2014

WorkSafe New Zealand says the death of a Maori forestry worker could have been avoided if health and safety procedures had been followed.

Robert Ruri-Epapara was working as part of a Complete Logging Limited crew at Waione Forest near Rotorua in March last year when he was fatally injured by a falling tree.

A logging company director, Major Nelson, has been fined $35,000 and ordered to pay $15,000 in reparation.

WorkSafe New Zealand's chief investigator, Keith Stewart, said Mr Nelson should have established where Robert Ruri-Epapara was before he moved a Timberjack machine into his work area and began cutting down trees.

Last year there were 10 forestry deaths, while so far this year there's only been one death.