Waikato landfill avoids prosecution despite safety breaches

A Waikato landfill has avoided prosecution following a fatal workplace incident after WorkSafe NZ accepted an enforceable undertaking submitted by the company.

The March 2020 incident happened when a 60-year-old truck driver who was standing next to his vehicle was fatally struck by a loader driven by a colleague.

WorkSafe's Head of Specialist Interventions, Dr Catherine Gardner, said, "The investment the company is prepared to make exceeds what even the courts may have ordered in penalties."

Under the agreement, the company committed to a number of WHS initiatives totalling nearly $1 million, including reparations to the deceased worker's family.

Additional information is available here.