WorkSafe New Zealand – the government’s work and health safety regulator – has warned firms to learn from their mistakes and ensure that workplace risks are addressed.

The notice comes after the Wanganui District Court sentenced the Tasman Tanning Company on Friday for a life-threatening workplace incident, just five years after the company was fined for similar health and safety breaches.

According to the regulator, a forklift driver was exposed to hazardous hydrogen sulphide gas while shifting containers in April 2016. The worker lost consciousness twice, resulting in a concussion, facial gashes and a nose injury. The company was convicted before that for failing to ensure its employees’ safety at its other Wanganui plant after exposure to hydrogen sulphide gas left four workers unconscious in 2012.

The court imposed a $380,000 fine on the company, and ordered it to pay $18,000 in reparation to the victim. 

“Tasman Tanning was well aware of the risk posed to its workers by hydrogen sulphide exposure. Following the 2012 incident, they said they would sharpen up their processes and while they implemented some changes, they still failed to mitigate risks appropriately,” said WorkSafe Chief Inspector Response and Investigations Keith Stewart.

“These failures led to unnecessary and unacceptable injuries to a worker. When a business is held to account for breaches of the law, ensuring the breaches aren’t repeated is a cornerstone of good health and safety practice. Failing to do so is a breach of workers’ rights to a safe workplace.”


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