Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Auckland
Reference No AA 21/10
Hearing date 19 Nov 2009
Determination date 19 January 2010
Member D King
Representation R Harrison ; N Dines
Location Auckland
Parties Yong v The O'Brien Group Ltd
Summary UNJUSTIFIED DISMISSAL – Serious misconduct – Applicant claimed unjustifiably dismissed after workplace accident resulting in amputation of finger – Respondent argued applicant breached health and safety rules constituting serious misconduct warranting summary dismissal – Respondent investigated accident and alleged applicant used saw in unsafe manner – Respondent alleged saw used without safeguard in breach of rules – Disciplinary meeting held – Respondent put allegation to applicant – Applicant explained saw used by someone else after applicant – Respondent investigated claim and concluded unsustainable as no one else in workplace after applicant, sawdust same as wood used by applicant, and blade and fence settings matched applicant’s job – Applicant dismissed – Authority found respondent entitled to set health and safety procedures – Found respondent reasonably concluded applicant failed to follow procedures – Found conduct constituted serious misconduct – Dismissal justified – Kitchen and bench top finisher
Result Application dismissed ; Costs reserved
Main Category Personal Grievance
Statutes ERA s103A
Cases Cited Fuiava v Air New Zealand NZ Ltd [2006] 1 ERNZ 806
Number of Pages 7
PDF File Link: aa 21_10.pdf [pdf 33 KB]