Fonterra unveils third major investment
Fonterra is investing $150 million on a new cool store at its Whareroa site in Taranaki.
A traumatic brain injury by a Taranaki worker has led to the first sentencing of a consultancy under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.
Safe Business Solutions (SBS) consultants gave paid health and safety advice to the employer of Grant Bowling, who was knocked unconscious by the bucket of an agricultural vehicle in August 2020.
He suffered two brain bleeds, permanent loss of taste and smell, and was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.
SBS had identified a “desperate need” for a traffic management plan and had undertaken to provide one, but hadn’t done so by the time of the collision six months later.
A WorkSafe investigation found no steps were taken to manage the risks of uncontrolled traffic, aside from a small sign about speed at the entrance.
As a result, SBS was sentenced at New Plymouth District Court on 16 August 2024. A fine of $70,000 was imposed, and reparations of $28,403 were agreed.
“In this case, the consultants offered active and ongoing management of health and safety risks, but did not deliver work they said they would,” says WorkSafe’s area investigation manager, Paul West.
“One-way systems, clear separation between vehicles and people, designated crossing points, and speed bumps are measures which could have avoided the incident and the very serious consequences Mr Bowling still lives with.”
West says that businesses paying for specialist health and safety advice need to know both they and their consultants have responsibilities under the law.
“You need the right consultant helping in the right way to get the right outcomes for workers,” he concludes.
A group of Canterbury farmers who work together exploring the various uses of liquid injection systems on their seed drills was the worthy winner of the Working Together Award at the recent 2024 Arable Awards, says the group’s FAR Facilitator.
The worm challenge for sheep and beef farmers is increasing as the warm, moist weather of spring and early summer arrives.
A scientist instrumental in the development and commercialisation of the novel endophyte AR37 scooped the Ballance Agri-Nutrients Science and Research Award at Beef + Lamb NZ Awards last night.
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Matt Bolger, the Pro Vice-Chancellor of The University of Waikato Management School, is joining Fonterra’s management team from March next year.
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