A pipeline contractor who lost two workers when their boat apparently capsized off Christchurch's Lyttelton Heads last week has been fined over another accident in which an employee lost a leg.
Heron Construction was fined $25,000 in Christchurch District Court yesterday for failing to take all practicable steps to ensure the safety of tug employee Charlie Durham, The Press reported.
Mr Durham was working as a boat deckhand when a piece of wire attached to an anchor wrapped around his leg and tightened suddenly off New Brighton on December 8 last year.
Heron pleaded guilty.
Judge Stephen Erber also ordered the company to pay $50,000 reparation to Mr Durham and court and legal costs of about $2000.
The judge said Heron had failed in its duties to ensure proper procedures were in place and failed to ensure that the particular hazard was identified. Heron, an Auckland contractor working on the Christchurch ocean outfall, employed Jody Campbell and Tony Utteridge, who went missing on Wednesday night last week while returning to Lyttelton in stormy conditions in their 6m Naiad runabout.
Heron Construction was a subcontractor to McConnell Dowell on the project.
Mr Campbell's body has been recovered but Mr Utteridge is still missing. Maritime New Zealand is investigating.
