A work safety authority has concluded an investigation into the death of a quarry owner whose business was found to be in breach of health and safety laws.
- WorkSafe New Zealand’s investigation related to the death of 56-year-old Murray Taylor, the late owner of Waikari-based limestone quarrying business Heathstock Haulage. Taylor was killed in June 2015 when more than 1000 tonnes of rock fell from a quarry wall, engulfing his 65-tonne excavator.
- “Quarry work is inherently risky unless it is done correctly,” Keith Stewart, WorkSafe New Zealand’s chief inspector of investigations, stated. “In this case, no geotechnical assessment had been carried out to determine the nature of the rock wall. That would have helped identify the safest way to tackle excavation work.”
- Stewart indicated Taylor had breached the New Zealand Health and Safety in Employment Act by failing to put procedures in place to ensure staff were adequately trained, monitored and supervised. It was also determined early on in the investigation that Taylor did not have the certificate of competence legally required of him as a quarry owner.
- WorkSafe New Zealand decided, however, that prosecution was “not in the public interest” as Taylor had been the sole director in charge of quarry work at Heathstock Haulage. “Despite the conclusion that the health and safety law was breached, there would be nothing to be gained from laying charges against Mr Taylor’s company,” Stewart explained.
(Source: Quarry Magazine)