Mr Harrison crashed through a small retaining wall and hit a house. He died minutes later as a local resident held his hand to comfort him.
A criminal prosecution was filed against Onyx Group Limited for operating an unsafe vehicle.
The firm pleaded guilty and was sentenced at North Shore District Court a year later. A multi-agency review of Onyx's safety performance issues was then carried out, with input from the old Department of Labour, Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC), NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), and police.
And in 2006, a coroner heard of a "strong drug culture" at Onyx's Christchurch operations, which was contracted to Christchurch City Council. Truck runner James Arthur Kirkpatrick, 18, had smoked cannabis "either in the cab of the truck of in the four hours or so" before he slipped and fell under the truck's rear wheels, killing him, Coroner Richard McElrea found.
The inquest heard that around half the staff at the time were regular drug users.
A high turnover of staff in the industry meant it was difficult to establish a strong culture of health and safety, managers told the coroner.
After Mr Kirkpatrick's death, Onyx introduced pre-employment drug testing and compulsory post-accident drug testing.
The NZTA audited the company - which became Waste Management - in 2005 and 2006 and found that the "drug use culture ... has all but disappeared", with the company sacking 42 staff members in a year.
Veolia, the company that owns Onyx Group, today said it is reviewing all of its safety guidelines and procedures after the latest tragedy.
It is working closely with Auckland Council, the police and work safety authorities including Worksafe NZ as investigations continue.
"The tragic accident that occurred this week affirms the need to ensure that safety procedures and guidelines are in place and that these are regularly reviewed and updated, as necessary; in partnership with all stakeholders," a Veolia spokesman said.
Auckland Council said it is carrying out its own internal investigation with Onyx.
John Dragicevich, council's acting manager of infrastructure and environmental services, said it's too early to consider a review of its contract with the waste management company.
"We are still gathering the facts and continue to be focused on our investigations," he said.
Two weeks ago, Onyx was awarded ACC's highest safety accreditation.But the industry has a shocking recent history littered with fatal accidents.
Worksafe figures released to NZME News Service show 11 deaths involving rubbish trucks in the past 14 years.
Karl Andersen of FIRST Union, which represents rubbish truck drivers and collectors, said it's time for Worksafe to "consider industry safety standards".
"Improvements can be made, especially around health and safety training," he said.
Mr Andersen specifically raised concerns that runners weren't being given adequate training.
"There are obvious hazards," he said.
"Workers are often on the job in the early hours of the morning, many of them operate heavy machinery while others are constantly running across roads."There need to be clear industry safety standards to deal with developments in the industry."
RUBBISH TRUCK WORKER DEATHS
• 2001: Brady Prouse Williams, 16, crushed to death after falling into compactor of Street Smart recycling truck at Half Moon Bay near Pakuranga.
•2005: James Arthur Kirkpatrick, 18, trips and falls under Onyx rubbish truck in Christchurch.
• 2006: Inia Motu Rauwhero Roberts, 15, killed at Whitford Landfill in Auckland when tractor he was driving rolled and crushed him.
• 2007: A 13-year-old Hamilton boy killed by a Street Smart rubbish collection truck while helping his dad. Company fined $87,500 and ordered to pay $60,000 reparation. * •2007: Onyx driver Patrick Harrison, 51, killed when rubbish truck smashes into Birkenhead house.
• 2009: Dunedin rubbish truck runner Andrew Sime killed when struck by vehicle. Transpacific Industries Group was sentenced at Dunedin District Court, fined $60,000 and ordered to pay $80,000 reparation.
• 2010: Alpha Refuse Collections crew member Willie Nicholas, 29, killed when rubbish truck backed over him in a Mangere driveway.
• 2010: Another Alpha Refuse Collections worker Robert Joshua was also backed over in South Auckland.
•2014: Auckland waste collection worker fatally crushed between two vehicles. * • 2015: Wellington recycling truck driver Junior Hunt, 20, died of horrific injuries after being crushed in lifting gear.
• 2015: Jane Lee Devonshire, 19, crushed to death when Onyx rubbish truck goes over a Birkenhead cliff.
