The enforceable undertaking was granted following an incident in February 2017, when scaffolding collapsed underneath Auckland’s Panmure Bridge and six workers fell into the water below them. Although one worker was trapped on the scaffolding, all escaped the scene without serious injury.

WSP Opus was the engineer to the contract for the maintenance work on the bridge. Their responsibilities included contract management, surveillance, and quality assurance in relation to the bridge restoration works.

An enforceable undertaking is an agreement between WorkSafe and a duty holder following a breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act. The agreement details a series of actions that WSP Opus will undertake and is legally binding.

WorkSafe’s investigation into the incident found that WSP Opus had failed to ensure the health and safety of workers whose activities in carrying out work were influenced or directed by WSP Opus. This included failing to notify the contractor that it required information about the scaffold load calculations and design drawings, and failing to halt work on the site until this had been adequately provided.

WorkSafe’s Head of Specialist Interventions, Simon Humphries said, “This enforceable undertaking highlights the need for responsibilities to be delegated and understood in projects involving multiple parties. WSP Opus had an overarching responsibility for the health and safety of all the contractors bought in to complete the job.”

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