Petrol fumes leave three dead

On 7 December 1994 WreckAir hired a pump to Peter Applegate. Peter conducts business as a primary producer on a dairy farm were he employs his son, Peter Applegate Jnr, as a farmhand. Peter transported the pump from WreckAir to his farm where it was placed in a well and operated to pump out liquid from the well. The well is utilised to supply water to the farmhouse and cattle watering tanks. Thomas, PJ and Greg Mead, a person not employed at the farm entered the well and were overcome by fumes emitted from the motor of the pump. All three men died in the well as a result.

A few hours later a fourth person, John Hanks entered the Applegate farm looking for Thomas. John attempted to reach the men, but was driven back by bad air in the well. At that time the pump motor was located inside the well.

The pump was collected by Peter from WreckAir. A deposit was paid by him on the equipment hired. Peter signed a "Cash Hire Invoice" and was given a copy of it. He was given no other documentation and he was given no instructions, written or otherwise, as to the danger of operating the pump motor in a confined space. The pump motor itself carried information stickers bearing the name "WreckAir Hire", a telephone number for service assistance and a "Warning - Petrol Only" sign near the fuel tank cap. No other sticker or warnings were attached to the motor or any other part of the plant.

Peter hired the pump in circumstances where, whatever the information he had supplied as to his needs, no attempt was made to convey to him any operating instruction at all, let alone those which would relate to the hazard arising from the use of the equipment particularly the petrol motor in a confined space.

WreckAir was convicted and fined $20 000.

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