Company fined for workplace accident

A teenager left tetraplegic after about 250kg of equipment fell on him in a workplace accident is grateful for the support of his former employer.

Palmerston North's Jacob Spooner, 19, was loading a Fliway Computer Transport Services truck in February last year, when he was crushed under falling boxes.

He is now a tetraplegic.

His former employer, Computer Transport Services New Zealand Ltd, appeared in Palmerston North District Court yesterday for sentence for breaching the Health and Safety Act.

The company, which pleaded guilty and had already paid $120,000 reparation to Mr Spooner since the accident, received a $55,000 fine from Judge Gregory Ross.

Mr Spooner told the Manawatu Standard outside court he had been prepared for the hearing, but he had hoped the company would get a smaller fine. "They did quite a lot for me, so I'm quite grateful."

The company, for which he had only worked for a month when the accident happened, had offered him continued support, he said.

He was hoping to take up a training position with Fliway Transport, training staff on the health and safety risks in the job.

Mr Spooner received months of rehabilitation treatment at Christchurch's Burwood Hospital spinal unit, but has since returned to a modified home in Palmerston North with his partner.

The Manawatu Standard earlier reported on the challenge Mr Spooner had in finding suitable accommodation.

They were now on the lookout for a bigger home, as their current home was too small, he said.

He was a keen wheelchair rugby player and hoped to try out for the Wheel Blacks, he said.

His mother, Nicole Goodgame, said it meant a lot to the family when the company apologised during a restorative justice hearing earlier this year.

It had pleaded guilty relatively early and it was a relief to have the court hearing over, she said.

"It has been a long time coming."

The privately owned company, whose director and human resources manager were in court, had since made changes to safety procedures, the court heard.

Its lawyer, Rob Towner, said the company "deeply regrets the accident and is very, very sorry for what happened to Jake".

- © Fairfax NZ News