13 August 2014

A Rotorua logging company crew foreman and director has been fined $35,000 and ordered to pay $15,000 in reparation over the death of a worker killed by a falling tree.

Major Nelson was convicted in the Rotorua District Court today of failing to take all practicable steps as an employee to ensure no action of his while at work caused harm to another person.

Robert Ruri-Epapara was part of a Complete Logging Ltd logging crew at Waione Forest near Rotorua in March 2013 when he was hit by a tree cut down by crew foreman Nelson.

Nelson was operating a tracked excavator with an attachment used for felling trees and as an anchor point for cables used to haul logs up a slope. While trying to manoeuvre it onto a level position so it could be used as an anchor point, he decided to fell trees that were in his way.

Nelson contacted another worker with a radio to try to check Ruri-Epapara's location. Understanding that the slope was clear, he cut down a tree which struck Ruri-Epapara and another tree which also toppled over.

He did not see Ruri-Epapara, who was working without radio communications on a steep slope in thick undergrowth.

Source: www.stuff.co.nz