Photo source: Ecostore
Home and body care products manufacturer Ecostore is said to invest around $323,000 to enhance its health and safety measures following a serious workplace incident that resulted in permanent eye damage to an employee.
An Auckland worker has suffered permanent vision damage after a pressurised hose accidentally sprayed hazardous chemicals into his eyes while he was producing dishwashing powder.
The incident happened in Pakuranga on March 7, 2023.
WorkSafe investigated the event and reported that “The [employee] had completed blending the dry ingredients and commenced adding the liquid ingredients via the pressurised-pot spraying system.”
“He had walked … away from the spray system when one of the hose clamps failed,” WorkSafe added.
Based on WorkSafe’s investigation, the incident has “caused a vertical spray of litres of mixture … about 6 metres in the air from the pressure pot outlet.”
“The [employee], who was initially well clear of the spray, walked back to the pressure pot to shut it down.”
“In doing so, he was showered with liquid. He had not been trained to respond appropriately to a release of a pressurised substance and the correct use of PPE for such situations.”
WorkSafe reported that Ecostore acknowledged that some employees, including the injured worker, had not received sufficient training in chemical safety, emergency procedures for chemical spills, and handling substances under pressure.
Some workers at Ecostore were also not provided with adequate training regarding personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements and did not receive the appropriate PPE. Additionally, the injured worker was incorrectly permitted to assess his own injuries and did not receive the necessary first aid following the incident.
“We recognise the importance of going beyond just compliance, and we take our responsibility to ensure the health and safety of our employees incredibly seriously. We are committed to continuous improvement in this space and have already implemented numerous advancements,” Ecostore Group chief operating officer Tony Acland said.
In response to the incident, Ecostore submitted an application to WorkSafe for an enforceable undertaking, which is a legally binding commitment to implement health and safety enhancements. This initiative includes installing AI-integrated CCTV systems, creating a new working platform for liquid manufacturing, and introducing additional safety controls. Furthermore, Ecostore is funding a pilot program by Blind Low Vision to educate and support businesses that employ visually impaired individuals, focusing on workplace health and safety, inclusion, and well-being. The company is also organising a webinar in collaboration with the Employers and Manufacturers Association.
The company has also compensated the injured worker with $20,000 in financial restitution and continued to supplement his ACC compensation until his resignation in July 2023. Additionally, the company provided another payment of $20,000 after learning more about the emotional distress he experienced.
“As a New Zealand business, we are dedicated to maintaining our high standards of safety for all of Aotearoa and are hopeful that sharing our health and safety learnings with other manufacturers will have a real impact on raising awareness and improving the culture in similar workplaces,” Acland stated.