Orewa College yet to enter pleas over fatal boiler blast

The board of trustees of an Auckland school has not yet entered pleas to two charges over a fatal boiler explosion in June last year.

Orewa College caretaker Richard Nel died after suffering burns to 90 per cent of his body.

Contractor Robin Tubman is still recovering from serious injuries.

The board is charged under the Health and Safety in Employment Act with failing to take all practicable steps to ensure the safety of an employee and failing to take all practicable steps to ensure that no workplace hazard harms an employee of a contractor.

It entered no pleas to the charges, which were laid by the Department of Labour in the North Shore District Court last December.

The trial has been adjourned until March 30.

Orewa board of trustees chairman Phil Pickford said last year that the school would defend the charges "vigorously and rigorously".

- NZPA