WorkSafe has filed charges against an individual and a company in relation to a gas explosion that occurred in Christchurch last year.
The July 2019 explosion caused serious injury to six people, destroyed one house, and damaged several adjacent properties, according to a report by Stuff. The Christchurch city council restricted access to the affected homes, declaring them unsafe to live in.
The charges were filed for violations of the Gas Act 1992, and the defendants are scheduled to appear in court on August 18. The move comes after the conclusion of an investigation led by Energy Safety of WorkSafe, with the help of police, Fire and Emergency New Zealand, and the Crown Solicitor’s office.
Michael Greaney was one of the people inside the house when the explosion happened, and he suffered serious leg burns due to the incident.
At present, Greaney is still under medical care, which may take up to eight more months. When asked by Stuff about the development, he said that he is “pleased to know something is being done about it,” but declined to comment further.
