Two companies have been ordered to pay $70,000 after a worker fell 3.2m into a well cellar at a mothballed oil and gas facility in Taranaki.
The man fell after the grating covering the well cellar gave way beneath him. He suffered a 7cm cut to his shin and a compression fracture.
Despite his injuries, he managed to climb an escape ladder -- which had several missing rungs and was coming away from the top of the cellar wall.
An internal investigation found clips used to secure the grating were missing.
NZEC Wiahapa, which runs the site in partnership with another company, was sentenced in Hawera District Court today. It was fined $30,000 and ordered to pay reparation of $10,000.