Ports of Auckland fined $50,000 after worker falls off ledge

Monday, 20 June 2016

Ports of Auckland has been fined $49,980 after a stevedore plunged nearly three metres onto a ship deck.

The stevedore was working on the container ship Spirit of Independence on 11 October, 2014 when the accident happened.

He was watching the foreman and another worker de-lash a container when he stepped off the edge of the hatch lid and fell 2.78m.

He was knocked unconscious and fractured his elbow.

READ MORE: Stevedore injured after fall

The lid was 1.7m wide and had no safety rails.

It was used to access containers as the ladders on the ship were designed for small people and not generally used by stevedores.

Maritime New Zealand maritime compliance general manager Harry Hawthorn said better communication of the need to stay away from edges could have prevented the accident.

'[Ports of Auckland] knew that stevedores frequently used the easier, faster option of walking across the hatch lid rather than using the ladders - but the lack of safety rails on the hatch was not identified at the ship specific safety briefing for stevedores.

'While the company stated it had a policy that stevedores stay at least 1.4m away from the edges where a fall could occur, this was not widely known by workers on the date of the incident. No requirement appears in documents used to train container lashers.'

The port was also ordered to pay the stevedore $12,000 reparation.

In March last year the port was fined $55,000 and ordered to pay reparation of $25,000 after a stevedore suffered serious injuries after falling 15m from the top of a container.