Ōmokoroa workplace deaths: Construction company ‘shocked and devastated’ by death of worker on site

The person who died after a workplace incident in Ōmokoroa yesterday afternoon was working at the site of Thorne Group, a home building and design company in Tauranga.

The incident happened around 1:15 p.m. on Te Kaka
pl.

Thorne Group Director Gavin Morrow confirmed in a statement “with deep sadness” that a worker at the company’s Ōmokoroa site had died.

“Being a family-oriented construction company, we are shocked and devastated by this incident,” Morrow said.

“Our deepest thoughts and condolences go out to the worker’s family and friends at this time.

“Out of respect for the family of the worker and staff affected by the incident, we will make no further comment.”

Thorne Group expected to have a clear understanding of the incident following WorkSafe’s investigation, Morrow said.

Thorne Group is a Tauranga-based homebuilder and design company, according to its website.

WorkSafe was conducting investigations that would determine next steps, a spokesperson for the regulator told the Bay of Plenty Times.

Thorne Group is one of several building or construction companies with sites in the area, but its Te Kaka Pl site was empty this morning.

Residents living nearby who spoke to the Bay of Plenty Times said they were not at home at the time of the incident, but the death was saddening.

WorkSafe did not respond to a question from the Bay of Plenty Times about the date of the last death in the construction industry, however, data on its website showed there were seven fatalities in the industry. of construction between January 2011 and September 2021 in the Bay of Plenty.

Three of them took place in February 2019, one in July 2017, two in February 2016 and one in August 2011.

During the same period nationally, there were 88 fatalities in the construction industry.

Meanwhile, there were 2,706 injuries that resulted in more than one week lost time in local industry between January 2010 and December 2020. Data for 2021 was only available through April, and there were 114 injuries.

Emergency services received reports of an injured person at a workplace on Te Kaka Pl shortly after 1.15pm on Wednesday.

A rescue helicopter, ambulance, rapid response unit and manager were dispatched by St John to the scene, along with two fire apparatus from Fire and Emergency New Zealand.

Te Kaka Pl is next to Ridge Dr, which is the third exit from the first roundabout on Ōmokoroa Rd toward the urban area from State Highway 2.

Many houses around Te Kaka Pl are newly developed and some are show houses for building or construction companies.