Council Rejected 2022 Design that Would Have Likely Prevented Injuries on Diamond Harbour Pontoon; Risk of Crush Injuries "Very High"; Delays by Hunter Civil result in further preventable casualties
The Wigram has uncovered systemic negligence & a long list of missed opportunities to prevent crush injuries & found a 5th casualty, Katrina, who had parts of her left hand amputated
As Katrina was driven from Diamond Harbour to Christchurch’s accident and emergency, her pain grew, and she went into shock. To compound matters, there was a power blackout at the hospital that prevented her from being operated on.
But the 27-year-old would not be only casualty that Waitangi Day weekend. At least 5 holidaymakers, including an 8-year-old girl, would suffer crush injuries on a council pontoon floating in Diamond Harbour.
Left to right: Fengsha Lu and Lindy Cai
A completed Council investigation report and a Hunter Civil draft report show that the crush injuries that several people suffered were completely preventable.
“however it is highly likely recreational users will still utilize the pile yokes still to pull themselves up onto the pontoon, exposing themselves to the crush hazard”
Council Health and Safety and Wellbeing Team, 25 July 2023
On Friday, the 3rd of February, Hunter Civil’s workers stopped for the long weekend, and left the pontoon unattended and a few meters away from the jetty, which was known as a spot for people diving off into the sea.
That night Katrina was the first casualty. Hunter’s report states:
“All three fingers (little, ring and middle) sustained fractures with the little and middle fingers requiring a reduction at the tips, removing bone that was shattered. Fingernails on these fingers were also removed. The middle finger sustained a split resulting in bone being visible and the soft tissue was repaired during the surgery. Some soft tissue was lost during the incident.”
Photo from the Hunter report: A bloodstained tower yoke found by Hunter after the long weekend.
Over the coming days, several more crush victims were to follow. Despite being told about the injuries, Hunter did not make safe its worksite until after the long weekend on Tuesday, the 7th of February.
Pictured: Lindy Cai’s Hand
But the injuries were preventable.
The Hunter report shows that in 2022 the council rejected design recommendations that would have minimised or eliminated altogether the risk of crush injuries that resulted.
From the beginning
The Christchurch City Council awarded the “the Diamond Harbour Wharf Upgrade project in April 2022…”
“CCC had engaged Tonkin + Taylor (T+T) to provide a permanent design for the piles and concept design for the pontoon/gangway prior to the tender process.”
“The awarded contractor (HCL) would be required to design the pontoon/gangway utilising the T+T conceptual design which was provided in the tender.”
“HCL engaged Torlesse Structural for the design components. HCL have a prior track record of wharf maintenance and repair work.”
A missed opportunity
“As part of the design process no specific Safety in Design (SID) workshop was completed, however a number of safety design improvements were recommended by OCEL (HCL subconsultant) post a wave action design assessment and these were tabled to CCC via NTE013 on 21/06/2022.”
“OCEL shared learnings from their involvement in the design of the Akaroa south pontoon (HCL was not the contractor for this project).”
“OCEL Recommendations were as follows: … 2. Fendering to be incorporated into the pile guides/yokes – to reduce impact forces and rapid deceleration and reduce any impact on the pontoon users.”
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