A New Zealand concrete company is to pay more than $NZ36,000 ($A28,170) after a hose for pumping concrete knocked a man unconscious and broke his shoulder.

Pumpcrete NZ Limited was fined $NZ25,000 ($A19,562) and ordered to pay $NZ11,210 ($A8,772) reparation, after it was convicted of failing to take all practicable steps to ensure the safety of workers in the Auckland District Court.

The man, who worked for another company, was injured in Morrinsville, Waikato, in January last year.

A Pumpcrete employee had connected extension hoses to a boom but a steel coupling separated while concrete was being pumped and a hose fell on the man, Labour Department central general manager Ona de Rooy said.

"As well as being knocked unconscious, this employee broke a bone in his right shoulder and suffered a large gash to his head.

"These injuries could have been prevented if some key safety measures and proper training processes were in place," de Rooy said.

The Pumpcrete employee was not sufficiently trained to undertake the task and was not aware that the hoses were too heavy for the boom, she said.

The department also found the company was using some equipment incorrectly and other equipment was not up to standard.

It had no daily or weekly maintenance procedure in place, de Rooy said.

http://news.msn.co.nz/nationalnews/8429402/concrete-company-to-pay-36k-after-injury

Can you imagine what that award would be in a US Court.  How many companies even know what to look for and how to do an inpection of hoses, pipe, reducers, clamps and safety slings?  How many more even document it?

Every company should contact their supplier of pumping accessories and demand a comprehensive list on inspecting their product and how often.  If you are buying anything from a low end provider and they do not provide you with that information then run from that product.