In May 2017, a vat used to manufacture brine solution for use in various food products at the company’s Hastings factory boiled over. While attempting to turn the machine off at a wall switch near the vat, boiling brine entered a worker’s gumboots, causing burns.
A WorkSafe investigation found these vats had boiled over on several occasions in the past, resulting in burns to another worker on one occasion. Heinz Wattie’s Limited had no controls in place to prevent the vats from boiling over.
The investigation also found the liquid entered the boots because the worker was not wearing correct personal protective equipment and the worker had not been given proper training in the prevention and management of boil overs.
Heinz Wattie’s Limited was fined $281,250 and ordered to pay reparations of $50,000 to the victim.
Head of Specialist Interventions Simon Humphries said Heinz Wattie’s Limited should have known better.
“These vats had reached boiling point on numerous occasions, putting workers at harm. Our investigation found workers were simply told to avoid vats when they boiled over. Heinz Wattie’s should have implemented automatic controls that prevented the solution from reaching boiling point.
“When you know there’s a problem, the law requires you to fix it. They didn’t and that is simply not acceptable.”
Notes:
- A fine of $281,250 was imposed.
- Reparations of $50,000 were ordered.
- NZCC Ltd was charged under sections 36(1)(a), 48(1) and (2)(c) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.
- Being a PCBU, failed to ensure, so far as was reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers who worked for the PCBU, while the workers were at work in the business or undertaking, and that failure exposed any individual, to a risk of serious injury, arising from exposure to boiling liquid.
- The maximum penalty is a fine not exceeding $1,500,000.
