WorkSafe Enforceable Undertaking (EU)
WorkSafe has accepted Enforceable Undertakings (EU) from Marlborough Lines Limited and Dominion Salt Limited following an incident that came about as a result of the 2016 Kaikoura Earthquake.
As part of the EUs, Marlborough Lines Limited and Dominion Salt Limited will carry out a number of health and safety initiatives aimed at improving safety in the electricity industry. The combined value of the initiatives totals more than $200,000.
Marlborough Lines, an Electricity Distribution Business (EDB), sustained significant damage to its electricity network on the east coast of the South Island as a result of the Kaikoura Earthquake. Alongside this, Dominion Salt sustained damage to its own private network, including downed power lines in areas outside of its immediate salt production operation.
As a result of a breakdown in communication between the parties an incident occurred when Marlborough Lines attempted to restore electricity supply to the Dominion Salt network through the closure of a locked off switch. WorkSafe’s investigation found that in the process of restoring electricity to Dominion Salt procedural errors were made between the parties and, although no-one was injured, there was a potential risk of electrocution had Dominion Salt’s own electrical contractor been working on its private network at that time.
More information on the EU can be found here
For a full copy of Dominion Salt Limited EU click here
