Company must pay $200,000 after Rev. Helen Verry was killed by roller shutter door of Auckland church

Following her death, the company that installed the door in 2009, Scotty Doors, was prosecuted by WorkSafe under the Health and Safety Employment Act 1992.

A similar violation would now be punished more severely under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2015, WorkSafe said.

Last week, the company was convicted in the Waitākere District Court and ordered to pay a fine of $41,250 and a further $162,000 in damages.

Verry's death was a “tragic consequence” of poor work performance, said Steve Kelly, head of investigations at WorkSafe.

When Verry tried to close the door by hand with a hand chain, the door came loose from the bracket because the motor was not working.

WorkSafe's investigation found that the roller door was secured by a piece of plywood and a wedge plate with screws that were too short to adequately support the weight.

“Scotty Doors did not ensure that the correct fasteners were used to secure the door,” Kelly said.

“Given the plywood panel, more attention should have been paid to the type and length of screws used.”

Kelly discovered that the length of the screws on one end did not meet building codes due to the thin plywood.

“Scotty Doors should have recognized that the door was not installed safely or in compliance. The registration form they signed stated that the door had been installed in the church lounge and all checks had been carried out – including securing the door to a solid bracket.”

The fine and damages Scotty Doors had to pay were a reminder to companies that they would be held accountable if they contributed to unsafe working conditions, Kelly said.