Sealord Neglects Responsibility for Staff Exposed to Asbestos In New Zealand

A hefty bill has been sent to a major fishing company after it exposed its staff to asbestos. Sealord, one of the largest fishing companies in the Southern Hemisphere, was ordered to pay two victims $3000 each in reparation, fined $257,250, and ordered to pay $28,987 in costs to Maritime NZ, in the Nelson District Court on Tuesday.


asbestos



Maritime NZ had investigated after asbestos was found on board the Will Watch, a Cook Islands-flagged ship owned by Sealord’s overseas subsidiary United Fame Investments. Aotearoa-based employees were seconded to work on the ship in Mauritius.

Maritime NZ’s general manager investigations Pete Dwen said the workers were still subject to the terms and conditions of their employment agreement with Sealord, which made Sealord responsible for the safety of its workers.

Senior staff members of Sealord had monitored the vessel’s health and safety operations and gave input on operating procedures, which should have identified the issues with the asbestos.

However, when Maritime NZ raised the asbestos issues with Sealord, it initially stated it “did not believe it posed a risk”.

Sealord’s chief executive Doug Paulin said the company thought absestos had been removed from the ship in 1986, which was why no risk assessment for the ship had been carried out.

The Will Watch was docked in Nelson in December 2021 where the company did an investigation and resolved the issues onboard.

An occupational medicine specialist said the exposure levels were low, and air sampling before and after remediation took place was negative.

“It was an honest mistake,” Paulin said.

“We’re pleased the evidence shows there is low risk to the harm of anyone’s health and remediation of the vessel has now taken place.”Dwen commended Sealord for pleading guilty before a trial took place. 


Sealord Neglects Responsibility for Staff Exposed to Asbestos In
New Zealand


“Sealord failed in its responsibility to keep its workers safe,” Dwen said. “There should have been better consultation between Sealord and United Fame Investments ... about the risks the asbestos posed to the workers.

“Sealord should also have done more to identify the risks or hazards the exposure to asbestos fibres on-board presented to its workers.”

Operators had a duty to eliminate or minimise exposure to airborne asbestos in the workplace, according to Maritime NZ guidelines.

“Understanding the risks on-board a vessel is important for operators. Everyone deserves to be safe at work, and be protected against risks such as asbestos,” Dwen said.

“Employers need to know the safety of staff is their responsibility, even if the workers are sent elsewhere and are not directly under their supervision.”

Sealord was fined $24,000 in 2020 and ordered to forfeit a US$16 million ship after it illegally deep-sea trawled in a protected zone off the east coast of Aotearoa.

It employed more than 1000 people in Aotearoa and 240 overseas, and its vessels engaged in deep-sea and finfish aquaculture fishing.


Inconsiderate Disposal of Asbestos Poses A Risk to Disabled Workers In Australia






Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Top 2 Reasons of Development of Asbestos Cancer

Image
Asbestos Cancer happens to be the most devastating form of lung cancer. But do you know how it develops and the probable causes responsible to spread the dreaded ailment? Well, let's give you some insights about this form of cancer before proceeding further. Medical researches had  already   begun as early as 1935 to track down the most common causes related to the Asbestos cancer. After a series of extensive research, the factors responsible to spread this form of cancer was none other than asbestos exposure to your body.  During the research, it was established by the National Cancer Institute that the level of asbestos exposure should be minimized to check the disorder under control. So, more will be the asbestos exposure to your body, lesser time it will take to spread the ailment. In the year 1986, OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) confirmed without proclaiming any doubts that Americans who have to work with Asbestos are most prone to su...
Read more

New York Mesothelioma Victims Center Urges A Plumber With Mesothelioma to Call Attorney Erik Karst for Compensation

Image
In the recent past, New York Mesothelioma Victims Center had stated that if anyone is diagnosed with mesothelioma anywhere in the New York city, he will be able to call the attorney Erik Karst to commence a fair compensation process. It's quite simple to approaching a mesothelioma law firm to get the required compensation. In its message to the general public, the mesothelioma center has urged people not to worry about the cost and just call the attorney on a given number so as to sue the company responsible in such cases and a proper investigation could be started. This is what the original statement says, "If you are a current of former plumber who has just been diagnosed with mesothelioma anywhere in New York State or their immediate family please call attorney Erik Karst of the law firm of Karst von Oiste anytime at 800-714-0303 for a no obligation compensation analysis from one of the nation's top mesothelioma attorneys as well as an in-depth explanation of how the ...
Read more

Asbestosis: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, & More

Image
In this document, we are going to uncover a number of aspects related to asbestosis . It's a serious complication caused due to asbestos exposure. There are some other complications related to the exposure of asbestos including mesothelioma . But first we would like to discuss one of the chronic conditions caused due to asbestos exposure called asbestosis. Asbestosis is basically a chronic lung disease caused by exposure to asbestos and cannot be cured. Symptoms typically include shortness of breath, coughing, and chest pain and tightness. The life expectancy of patients diagnosed with asbestosis varies, and it also increases the risk of developing cancer.     What Is Asbestosis? Asbestosis is a chronic lung ailment brought about by exposure to asbestos. It entails a gradual scarring of the lungs and falls under the category of interstitial lung diseases. When the body attempts to get rid the lungs of asbestos particles, scar tissue forms, resulting in painful or ch...
Read more