Company fined over worker's death

Daisuke Yokoyama was killed after sustaining injuries to his torso when he became trapped between a cross beam on a racking unit and the console of the forklift he was operating. Photo / iStock

A Japanese food importing company has been sentenced over the death of a worker in a forklift accident.

On March 9 this year, Daisuke Yokoyama was killed after sustaining serious injuries to his torso when he became trapped between a cross beam on a racking unit and the console of the forklift he was operating at a Lower Hutt warehouse.

The company he worked for, Tokyo Food Company Limited (TFL), was sentenced at the Lower Hutt District Court after pleading guilty to one charge under the Health and Safety in Employment Act for failing to take all practicable steps to ensure the safety of its employee.

The tragic consequences of Mr Yokoyama not receiving adequate training were highlighted at the sentencing.

An investigation by WorkSafe New Zealand found there were multiple failures by the company that contributed to the incident.

As well as Mr Yokoyama, several other employees had not received the training required to drive the forklift.

During the sentencing, Judge Davidson said it was clear the level of training at TFL was a "significant departure from the industry standard".

WorkSafe chief inspector, Keith Stewart, said it was vital that workers operating heavy machinery had correct training and safety management systems.

"Sadly, in this instance, Mr Yokoyama has paid the ultimate price for the company's failure to meet these requirements," Mr Stewart said.

The company was fined $52,000 and the family of Mr Yokoyama will receive $76,994 in court ordered reparation.