The operator of a high ropes course near Rotorua has been fined $86,000 after a woman suffered spinal injuries during a team-building exercise.
The woman was at Tui Ridge Park in November last year for a team building exercise and was being lowered from a 10 metre high beam via a belay system, controlled by two of her colleagues, when they lost control and caused her to fall three metres.
The woman sustained spinal fractures and a spinal cord injury.
A WorkSafe investigation was conducted into the incident.
WorkSafe’s Chief Inspector, Keith Stewart, says in this case, the ropes and equipment were in good working order, but the instructor qualification and supervision of the activity were the cause of the incident.
"The victim in this case put herself in harm’s way expecting that the staff and the company running the park knew what they were doing and would keep her safe. If the Tui Park workers had been better qualified and had supervised the activity more closely this incident might have been avoided."
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