HSNO Spills: Clean Up Your Mess So Nobody Drowns!

Health and Safety, HSNO, Leadership sarah

Drowning is supposed to be a euphoric way to die. I’m not sure if I ever want to find out, and I’m sure the truck driver who was working at Bluff’s South Port in 2015 didn’t want to either. This post takes a look at Hazardous Substance and New Organisms: HSNO spills and how they can have catastrophic outcomes.

Read South Port to pay $185,000 in relation to death

What happened?

  • There had been a Superphosphate, known as SSP on Berth 8, according to the police the spill was not noticeable to the naked eye
  • Attempts to clean up the SSP had been unsuccessful and after rain it became slippery
  • The general cargo manager of the port discovered this when he drove over it at about 10kmh and slid.
  • The cargo manager emailed the port managers to alert them to the issue and no barricade or signage was put in place
  • Morrell McKenzie had been inducted and was contracted to move cray pots. He drowned when the truck he was driving slid off the wharf at Berth 8.
  • South Port Chief Executive Mark O’Connor said by pleading guilty, South Port acknowledged its role in the “tragic event”, and that the business could have prevented the “fatal accident”.

 

What did the court say about HSNO Spills?

The WorksafeNZ representative (DeAnne Brabant) said:

  • “[There was] no attempt to barricade … to signpost it.”
  • “This is not blaming the port’s employees at all … responsibility lies with the port.”
  • “His death could have been avoided.”

 

Judge Callaghan said company indicated the “extreme turmoil” the family went through. He ordered the company to pay:

  • McKenzie’s wife emotional harm reparation $110,000
  • Funeral expenses $5799
  • Loss of income, which included consideration for their son $20,000
  • Emotional harm reparation to each of McKenzie’s two daughters $7,500
  • Travel reimbursement to each of McKenzie’s two daughters $606
  • General Fine 32,989 

What can you learn about HSNO Spills?

  • Have spill kits available for any HSNO substances on your worksite
  • If there is a spill clean it up
  • Put up barricades and signage while the clean-up is in progress
  • If a spill is reported to you follow up

 

Have a safe and productive week.

 

SB a.k.a Safety Girl

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