14 February 2007
The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) was sentenced today under the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 for failure to adequately restrain a soldier in one of its vehicles.
As a result of the prosecution, reparation of $35,000 is to be made Gunner Michael Chapman.
“The NZDF takes very seriously the requirement to provide a safe working environment for all of our people. It is not always possible to shield our personnel from harm at all times, given the nature of our activities. However, this was not one of those occasions and the Defence Force accepts that there was no excuse for permitting what occurred to Gunner Chapman. I sincerely regret the injuries that Gunner Chapman suffered as a result of not being adequately restrained” said Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae, Chief of Defence Force.
While NZDF had policies in place at the time of the accident, these policies and their enforcement have since been improved as a consequence of the accident. NZDF Policies and orders now specify that troops who travel in the back of military vehicles must be seated with seatbelts securely fastened. Dual Purpose Vehicles that have removable seating to allow the carriage of stores and are later tasked for troop carrying must have the seats re-fitted with seatbelts to enable troops to ‘buckle-up’.
I am satisfied that we have further enhanced our policies and practices around the issue of restraints in vehicles” said Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae.
Gunner Chapman is currently a serving member of the NZDF and support towards his rehabilitation continues to be provided by the New Zealand Army. There are further legal proceedings relating to the accident in which Gunner Chapman was injured and therefore NZDF is unable to comment on it further.
ENDS
For further information please contact Major Charmaine Pene, Army Public Relations, on (04) 496 0285 or 021 478 574.