Company to pay over $100k after worker's death

File photo / APN

A Waikato company will have to pay more than $100,000 in fines and reparation over the death of a worker last year.

Tyler Old was operating a truck, specially adapted to spread fertiliser, on an Okauia farm in Matamata in June.

WorkSafe NZ said while nobody saw the incident, Mr Old appears to have climbed into the hopper and got trapped in the conveyor.

Today, WorkSafe NZ said Wealleans Groundspread Ltd had been fined $33,750 and ordered to pay reparation of $70,000 over Mr Old's death.

The company had pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to take all practicable steps to ensure Mr Old's safety, and was yesterday sentenced in the Morrinsville District Court.

The company's health and safety handbook stated that employees should never climb into the hopper when the chain is going, but there were no prominent signs on the truck warning of the dangers of doing so.

WorkSafe's chief investigator, Keith Stewart, said Wealleans Groundspread Ltd failed to protect the safety of workers.

"The footholds and handholds on the side of the truck were inadequate to allow Mr Old to safely lean over the side wall of the hopper and push any fertiliser that was stuck down on to the chain conveyor.

"The company could also have provided a tool with a reach long enough to reach any residual fertiliser instead of the standard spade that was made available," Mr Stewart said.