Tank Installer Sentenced for Forging Diesel Tank Compliance Certificates
A tank installer was sentenced to five months of community detention after WorkSafe NZ found forged compliance certificates for diesel tanks at Govt sites.
The following is an abridgement of an article originally published by WorkSafe New Zealand.
Fraud Discovery
A tank installer was sentenced to five months of community detention after forging diesel tank compliance certificates between February 2017 and September 2023.
WorkSafe New Zealand reported that the installer, who was never an authorised compliance certifier, created fake documents using the names of legitimate certifiers.
The fraud was identified in 2024 when a maintenance worker raised concerns about a diesel tank at the National Library site in Whanganui. A subsequent WorkSafe investigation revealed that six police stations also possessed false certificates for diesel tanks used to fuel backup power generators.
Safety Implications
The forged certificates applied to tanks holding up to 7,500 litres. WorkSafe noted that without proper inspection, defects such as faulty pipework, inadequate containment, corrosion, or incorrect installation could go unnoticed, potentially leading to serious incidents.
WorkSafe’s Head of Authorisations and Advisory, Kate Morrison, stated that certification provides independent verification that hazardous substance systems are designed, installed, and maintained safely.
"When someone forges certificates, they put workers, emergency services and the public directly in harm’s way."
Legal Outcome
The installer was sentenced in the Wellington District Court on 2 April 2026 under the Crimes Act 1961 for making a false document with the intent that it be used as genuine.
WorkSafe advises businesses with hazardous substance installations to verify certificates directly with the issuing compliance certifier or by checking the official WorkSafe register.
