charges relating to an incident that claimed the life of construction worker Teddy Sewell.

Sea-Land Construction president Andrew Cooper and site supervisor Peter Vosvenieks appeared briefly in Magistrates' Court and pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Cooper was charged with failing to provide a safe system of work in relation to a crane; allowing the use of a crane that had not been inspected within the previous 12 months and permitting Mr. Sewell to operate it when he was not trained and competent to do so on November 2, 1995.

Vosvenieks was charged with failing to ensure that a crane was operated in a safe and proper manner; permitting a crane to be operated in a unsafe manner and failing to take reasonable steps to protect the health and safety of people who might have been affected by his acts or omissions at work.

Sea-Land pair plead not guilty All the offences carry a maximum penalty of 12 months in prison or a $5,000 fine.

Duncan Hall, on behalf of Sea-Land Construction, asked that the case be dealt with after the inquest into the St. David's Islander's death was completed.

Acting Senior Magistrate Cheryl-Ann Mapp adjourned the matter until December 6 because the inquest date is expected to be set in the next 14 days.

Mr. Sewell, who started working for Sea-Land in May 1985, was crushed between the front end of a container truck and a 20,000-ton crane arm.

The 39-year-old father-of-three was rushed to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, but it was believed that he was dead on arrival.

The crane was lifting a container of construction materials during the building of the Bull's Head car park in Hamilton when the accident occurred.

Jo-dina Pearman appeared for the Crown while Mark Diel represented Vosvenieks and Mr. Hall appeared on behalf of Sea-Land Construction.