27 Mar 2012

Charges laid over wind farm death

6:28 pm on 27 March 2012

Three companies have been charged in relation to the death of a Filipino man fatally crushed when a cherry picker toppled at Makara, near Wellington, last June.

Edwin Samiento, a 42-year-old father of four, was part of a team replacing an overhead wire at a Transpower site in Oteranga Bay when the accident occurred.

Another man suffered broken legs and serious chest injuries in the incident.

Electrix Ltd has been charged in the Wellington District Court with breaching the Health and Safety in Employment Act by failing to ensure its employees were not exposed to the risk of a fall from height.

Two other companies, Transfield Services New Zealand Ltd and New Zealand Crane Group are also facing charges over Mr Samiento's death.

The companies will reappear in court in May.