New Zealand

Labour Dept taking aircraft company back to court

05:55 am on 1 July 2012

The Department of Labour is taking Safe Air, an aircraft maintenance company owned by Air New Zealand, back to court over the death of an employee.

Miles Hunter, 51, who worked for Safe Air, was pulled into an engine he was servicing at Marlborough airport last August.

The company was prosecuted under the Health and Safety in Employment Act. It was fined $56,250 and ordered to pay $22,250 in reparation.

The Department of Labour says the fine does not reflect the seriousness of the offence and is going to apply to the High Court in Blenheim in September to seek a stiffer penalty.

It has previously argued Safe Air should have had guard-rails in place which might have prevented Mr Hunter from being sucked into the jet engine.