Alleged Assault At Waikeria Prison Sparks Major Overhaul By Mega Contractor
The story of an alleged assault of a Health and Safety worker (later withdrawn) that sparked a major overhaul by Australian mega firm CPB. CPB is also building Christchurch's multisport facility.
An allegation of assault made by a Health and Safety worker at Waikeria Prison has prompted an Australian mega construction firm, CPB Contractors, to complete a major overhaul its health and safety protocols and introduce a Psychosocial Hazards campaign, Respectful Workplaces program, and anti-bullying and harassment training. CPB is also building Christchurch’s multi-sport Facility, Parakiore. Both builds are overdue for completion.
The Parakiore multi-sport facility in Christchurch.
There was an allegation made about one of our staff members, the matter was investigated by an independent investigator and the allegation was found to be un substantiated. The matter was closed and we all moved on with our lives.
Jason Inness, JWI Earthmoving and Logging
~~~
The Health and Safety worker returned to work from time to time but was homesick and was not enjoying being in the country. He withdrew the assault complaint and resigned and returned to Australia.
On 15 August 2023, a contractor was working at the Waikeria Prison for JWI Earthmoving. The alleged victim told Worksafe that “a worker from subcontractor JWI Earthmoving got a tip truck bogged down, as part of the safety team responded to the event.”
Source: Corrections
The complainant told Worksafe the contractor “came and went to get excavator chained out(pulled out), this is against CPV processes as unsafe.” He said he “told him not to do it and there was a verbal altercation” and then started filming “the event as excavator being chained out.
He says the contractor “came over and hit in the side of the head and took his phone away”.
According to CPB, Human Resources told him it was investigating.
About 3 weeks later, the worker phoned Worksafe and complained he had sustained facial contusions, had high blood pressure, and that CPB Contractors was “not doing their duty to ensure safety of workers”.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to The New Zealand Reporter to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.