Failure to report accidents costs company thousands

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Failing to report a series of workplace accidents involving a crushed foot and a fractured rib has cost an Auckland based company more than $60,000.

Mondiale Freight Services Limited appeared in the Manukau District Court on six charges relating to failure in reporting workplace accidents.

The court heard that during an investigation by the Department of Labour (now the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment - MBIE) into a December 2010 workplace accident, an inspector became aware of other accidents that had not been reported.

"These were not minor incidents - they involved a crushed foot, a fractured thumb requiring six weeks off work and a fractured rib requiring a month off work," said Auckland health and safety manager for MBIE, Claire Morris.

All of the incidents occurred within the space of a year.

"Each of these incidents involved serious harm to a worker, and the company had a legal obligation to report them as soon as they occurred, and then follow up with formal written notification," said Ms Morris.

"It is a fundamental right of workers to expect to go home safe after work - not only did that not happen in these cases, but the employer also took a lackadaisical attitude to its notification responsibilities, and this is unacceptable.

"This case should come as a big wake-up call to those with notification obligations. The MBIE urges all employers and others to make sure they notify us when required if serious harm incidents occur on the job," said Ms Morris.

Mondiale Freight Services Limited was charged under the Health and Safety in Employment Act and fined a total of $62,475.

Grant Ryder, director of Mondiale Freight Services declined to comment.