25 Jul 2012

Boat building company fined

9:30 pm on 25 July 2012

A boat-building company has been fined $39,000 for failing to prevent a worker from being seriously injured when he fell nearly 3.7m.

In the Waitakere District Court on Wednesday, Alloy Yachts International was also ordered to pay $14,000 reparation to the man, who suffered fractures to his hip, spine, neck and ribs.

He fell onto a concrete floor while installing a handrail on a staircase on a yacht in January.

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment John Howard says an investigation revealed Alloy Yachts had removed a lifeline that could have prevented the fall.

Mr Howard says scaffolding around the front of the yacht also failed to meet safety standards.