A boat building company has been fined $39,000 and order to pay reparations to a worker who was seriously injured after falling four metres.
The accident happened in January this year when the Alloy Yachts International Limited employee was installing a handrail at the top of some stairs on a yacht.
As he was descending the stairs, he lost his footing and fell.
His momentum carried him across a swim deck and he fell nearly four metres onto a concrete floor below, the Waitakere District Court heard on Wednesday.
"The injuries sustained as a result of this accident were very serious: multiple fractures to his hip and spine, a fracture to his neck, and several broken ribs," Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment spokesman John Howard says.
"The employer failed to take appropriate steps to protect the safety of its workers. This is simply not good enough."
An investigation into the accident found that Alloy Yachts had removed a lifeline which could have prevented the fall, Mr Howard said.
In addition, it was discovered that scaffolding around the stern section of the hull failed to meet the required standards to prevent falls.
The company has been ordered to pay $14,000 in reparation to the employee.
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