Ports of Auckland fined $35,000 over stevedore’s fall

The worker was working on a containership, Spirit of Independence, on 11 October 2014 when the accident happened.

The fall of nearly three metres from the edge of a hatch lid onto the ship deck had knocked the stevedore unconscious and fractured his elbow.

It was reported that the hatch lid was 1.7 metres wide and had no safety rails. The lid was used to access containers as the ladders on the ship were designed for people of smaller stature and not generally used by stevedores.

Maritime New Zealand maritime compliance general manager Harry Hawthorn said: “[Ports of Auckland] knew that stevedores frequently used the easier, faster option of walking across the hatch lid rather than using the ladders - but the lack of safety rails on the hatch was not identified at the ship specific safety briefing for stevedores.”