“Workers for Coogan Contracting not briefed on power line safety before Sean Clear’s electrocution death”
Employees of a North Island contractor were not briefed on the dangers of working near power lines before an Irish seasonal worker was killed.
A coroner’s report released today said Coogan Contracting appeared to have had “poor hazard identification and risk management policies and practices” in place when Sean Joseph Clear died in 2023.
Clear was electrocuted when the arm of an excavator attached to a mower he was touching came into contact with the 33,000-volt overhead power lines on Taurewa Station near Waimarino (National Park)…
The coroner said the dangers associated with operating equipment near overhead lines were not explained to Coogan’s employees, either during their induction or at subsequent safety briefings…
The NP and MA Coogan Partnership was earlier prosecuted by WorkSafe, which said Clear died because the business failed to take proper care to ensure his safety.
The partnership, but not the individuals who comprised it, was convicted and fined $25,000. It was also ordered to pay $100,000 in emotional harm payments to Clear’s family, and $7500 in prosecution costs…
A principal of the partnership, Pat Coogan, told NZME the recommendations had already been implemented.
He declined to make further comment…
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