Imagine falling 10 meters while on the job, suffering life-threatening injuries, and waking up with five days of your life erased. This is the stark reality for Myles Dyeming, a KiwiRail worker whose preventable accident has sparked a critical conversation about workplace safety. But here's where it gets controversial: despite the company's fines and promises to improve, could this tragedy have been avoided entirely with better planning and training? Let’s dive into the details.
In October 2023, senior telecommunications technician Myles Dyeming was installing a new type of communications pole near Whanganui when he fell 10 meters. The consequences were devastating: a torn artery, a lacerated liver, a broken sternum, a punctured lung, fractured vertebrae, and five broken ribs. Dyeming spent days in a coma, later developing blood clots that required groundbreaking surgery. His recovery took a grueling 10 months, and even now, two years later, he’s not back to full fitness. A once avid runner, he can only manage 1 to 1.5 kilometers at a time—a stark reminder of the long-term impact of workplace accidents.
KiwiRail was fined $220,000 and ordered to pay Dyeming $28,500 in reparations after pleading guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act. WorkSafe’s investigation revealed fundamental failures in how KiwiRail introduced the new Oclyte poles, which differed significantly from the wooden poles previously used. Key oversights included a lack of detailed risk assessments, inadequate training for workers, and failure to provide safer alternatives like elevated work platforms. Even a fall arrest system, though installed, was not in use at the time of the accident. Climbing pegs on the pole were incorrectly placed, further exacerbating the risk.
And this is the part most people miss: WorkSafe’s central regional manager, Nigel Formosa, emphasized that businesses must rethink their approach to working at height. "When introducing new infrastructure, existing procedures aren’t always enough," he said. "Companies need to step back, conduct thorough risk assessments, and prioritize ground-level solutions or elevated platforms before relying on fall arrest systems as a last resort."
Dyeming himself reflects on the incident with a mix of gratitude and determination. "I’ve got five days missing from my life," he shared, yet he acknowledges KiwiRail’s support during his recovery and their commitment to developing better safety tools. "No one should ever fall again," he added, highlighting the silver lining of his ordeal.
KiwiRail has since tightened safety measures, including stricter requirements for height work and design changes to poles that allow workers to move safely. Chief Infrastructure Officer Siva Sivapakkiam expressed deep regret for Dyeming’s injuries and reaffirmed the company’s dedication to improving safety outcomes. But is it enough? Falls from height remain a leading cause of workplace fatalities and serious injuries, yet they are entirely preventable.
Here’s a thought-provoking question for you: If companies like KiwiRail are aware of the risks, why do these accidents still happen? Is it a matter of cutting corners, underestimating danger, or simply a lack of accountability? Share your thoughts in the comments—let’s keep this conversation going and push for safer workplaces for everyone.
