By JASON COLLIE
A judge who fined a company $30,000 over an Auckland sewer tragedy which claimed three lives says he wanted to send a warning on safety to the rest of the industry.
Aquatech New Zealand yesterday admitted three health and safety breaches after workers Eddie Rehia and Darren Skeen were killed by poisonous gas while flushing out sewer lines on Waitangi Day last year.
It was the country's worst industrial accident in 20 years.
Ken Karu - who worked for Stargate Services, the company which contracted Aquatech - also died when the trio went down a manhole at the corner of Fanshawe and Halsey Sts to clear a blockage.
Judge John Cadenhead ordered that $10,000 of the fine should be given to Mr Rehia's mother and $20,000 split between Mr Skeen's relatives, including his two young sons Vincent and V'arne.
He said he wanted to send a warning to the rest of the industry after being told how safety measures had not been followed.
There had been a buildup of hydrogen sulphide in the manhole because it was high tide at the time, but the men did not take any oxygen level readings.
Judge Cadenhead said: "It is imperative that tests for gas and other noxious materials are carried out before entry.
"There is a general need for deterrence to be spelled out by the court in this type of dangerous situation."
Mr Skeen's mother, Lynne, was too upset to talk after the sentencing of Aquatech, which is owned by Mr Rehia's brother Edward Nee Nee.
But her brother, Grant Scurrah, said the family wanted companies to clean up their act.
"It's not something that should have happened," he said.
Labour Department prosecutor Shona Carr said Aquatech had failed to ensure its employees' safety because it did not investigate the state and hazards of the manhole before the men started working there.
It also did not have any systems in place to pass on information about hazards to its workers.
Safety equipment was at Stargate's premises and would normally have been booked out in advance if it was thought workers would go down a manhole.
Kevin Mottram, the West Auckland branch manager of the Occupational Safety and Health service, said the accident had prompted the industry to improve its safety precautions.
"It was a wake-up call for the people with a lesser health and safety attitude," Mr Mottram added.
Aquatech manager Kevin Burton said: "We did not lose just two employees but a family member and a family friend.
"I don't think the fine is the issue. The loss of the people is the real issue."
Stargate Services and Metrowater, which contracted Stargate, have denied health and safety charges and a trial is expected to be held in May.
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