Firm denies charge over death fall

Press, 7 December 1976, Page 21

Firm denies charge over death fall

PA Wellington A Labour Department safety requirement made after the collapse of a platform that plunged three men to their deaths “highlighted the innocence” of Civil and Civic Company, Ltd, the Magistrate’s Court has been told. The company was facing a charge brought by the Labour Department that it had failed to take all reasonable , precautions for the safety of i men working on the platform. The case was before Mr K. L. Richardson, S.M. Mr R. hf. Hawkes appeared for the department, and Mr R. A. Heron for Civil and Civic. The Magistrate reserved his decision until December 15. In his final submission, Mr Heron said that after the

accident, the department had issued instructions changing the strain allowed to be put on building props. His client’s submission was that one of the props used to hold the platform in place had failed prematurely, and led to the collapse. The department’s new requirement acknowledged that the props were unable to take the strain the manufacturers had specified, he said. Mr Heron said it was unreasonable to hold his client responsible for a matter which the Labour Department had ruled on only in hindsight.

Mr Hawkes said the department had produced evidence showing that the failure was because the platform had been placed on a protruding bolt, and its point of balance had been shifted.