RSS Feed
April 18th, 2013 
Peter Nolan
Updated
The mining company at the centre of New Zealand’s Pike River mine disaster has been found guilty of safety breaches that led to the fatal blast.
Judge Jane Farish found safety breaches at Pike River Coal were directly linked to the deaths of the 29 men in the November 19, 2010 gas explosion at the South Island colliery.
“There were fundamental breaches of the Health and Safety in Employment Act which led to the unnecessary deaths of 29 men,” Judge Farish said in a written judgement at the Greymouth District Court.
Among those killed were 24 New Zealanders, two Australians, two Britons and a South African.
It was the country’s worst mine disaster in almost 100 years.
Pike River Coal were found guilty on all nine charges laid against the company, including failing to take all steps to prevent employees coming to harm.
Each charge carries a maximum penalty of NZ$250,000 (AU$205,000).
Sentencing is set to take place on July 4 and 5, however it is unclear what company assets are available as it went into receivership after the closure of the mine.
VLI Drilling Pty Ltd, an Australian company involved at the mine, was convicted of safety breaches last October and fined NZ$46,800 (AU$38,400).
The former chief executive of the mine, Peter Whittall, is facing similar charges to go to trial later this year.
He has pleaded not guilty.
Fears that dangerous gases remain in the pit of the mine shaft have prevented recovery teams from reaching the men’s bodies, which remain about 2.5 kilometres under the ground.
AFP
Topics:
disasters-and-accidents,
mining-industry,
new-zealand,
pacific
First posted
Source Article from http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-04-18/an-mining-company-found-guilty-in-nz-pike-river-mine-disaster/4637502
Posted in 
