WorkSafe says explosion that seriously burned a forklift driver was avoidable

By Penny Smith of RNZ

WorkSafe says an explosion that put a forklift driver in hospital for nine weeks could have been avoided with basic safety controls.

The worker was seriously burned when several condemned, 9kg gas bottles exploded and the forklift the worker was driving caught fire in March 2024 at Tank Test in Papatoetoe, Auckland.

The company was fined more than $300,000, including reparations of $5000, in a reserved decision of the Manukau District Court.

In sentencing Tank Test, Judge Gus Andrée Wiltens described the hazard as “clear and obvious”. He noted the company could have eliminated the risk at no cost by ensuring forklift and degassing operations never happened at the same time.

WorkSafe principal inspector David Worsfold said the case highlighted a significant gap between knowing what should be done and actually doing it.

“This worker ended up in hospital because his employer didn’t take simple steps to eliminate an obvious risk,” he said.

Worsfold added that every business, regardless of industry, could learn from what went wrong at Tank Test and that procedures that weren’t monitored and enforced were just paper.

“This case isn’t just about flammable gases. It’s about a pattern we see across industries,” he said.

“Businesses may identify risks but can fail to follow through with proper controls. They have procedures but don’t ensure they’re working in practice.”

WorkSafe said manufacturing was a priority sector for the regulator, as injury rates in manufacturing had remained stubbornly high over the past decade.

Tank Test has been approached for comment.

– RNZ