Hawkins fined over worker's site death

Hawkins Construction chief executive Chris Hunter. Photo / Supplied.

An Auckland construction company was yesterday fined $36,000 after a worker fell 10m to his death through a filled hole that had not been identified as a hazard.

Hawkins Construction pleaded guilty to a charge laid by the Department of Labour of failing to take all practicable steps to ensure a worker was not harmed on the job.

Raymond Allen was installing wiring when he fell through the hole that was filled with fire mortar, a compound used to contain fires.

He was working on a 12-storey Britomart East building site when the accident occurred on November 12 last year.

Another company, Firepel Kidd, was fined $25,000 for its role. It had been contracted to fill the hole with fire mortar but neither it nor Hawkins identified it as a potential hazard.

"Both Firepel and Hawkins should have identified the hole as a potential hazard and it should have been covered with secured planks or restricted by guard rails," Department of Labour acting Auckland Central service manager Linda Wilson said.

"Instead this man fell to his death through a failure by both companies to identify the risk of a fall. Working at heights is a hazardous activity and the risks need to be carefully managed."

She said falls from heights in the construction industry were an area of focus for the department.

Both companies were sentenced yesterday in the Auckland District Court.

Hawkins Construction chief executive Chris Hunter said the company's thoughts were with Mr Allen's family.

"We still feel the family's tragic loss and ongoing pain, and have been doing what we can to support them."

Mr Hunter said the company had improved its protocols to deal with potential dangers at building sites.

"We hope that the court's ruling, together with the work that has been shared industry wide on lessons learned, will bring some consolation for the Allen family, who continue to be very much in our thoughts."

Hawkins also paid the family $70,000 in reparation. Firepel paid reparation of $30,000.

- Staff reporter and NZPA