Palmerston North District Court found Initial Hygiene failed in their obligations to staff members by not following their own "policies that were ahead of the industry standard". They were fined $45k.
Initial Hygiene had policies for staff to be tested to establish whether they
were immune to Hepatitis B and, if not, to offer them the vaccination.
In 2015 the staff member became hospitalised with an acute Hepatitis B infection.
A company manager had explained to the employee that Hepatitis testing was 'not practised' and that toilets were not bio-hazards due to a sanitiser, and at no time during employment was the victim offered
screening or vaccination - the best method to prevent the disease.
In sentencing the court records showed the Judge taking into account the previously good safety record held by the firm, but a lack of remorse and late guilty plea ended by with them being fined $29,250 and ordered to pay the victim reparation of $10,000 for emotional harm and $4,998.64 in lost wages.
This case demonstrates having the best procedures and documentation means nothing if they are not followed in real terms.