June 27, 2007

Give workers greater role in workplace safety - Union

News that the Department of Labour has been under-reporting workplace deaths is further evidence of the need to give workers a greater role in workplace health and safety, says the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union.

EPMU Acting National Secretary Ged O'Connell says the nationwide network of workplace health and safety reps are a huge untapped resource.

"There are literally thousands of trained health and safety reps on worksites across New Zealand who could be the Department's eyes and ears on the job if only they were better supported and better utilised," says O'Connell.

"I find it difficult to understand how the Department is struggling to spend its budget when there is such an urgent need to get more health and safety reps trained and introduce a code of practice that would allow them to play a greater role in their own health and safety.

"If that had happened four years ago when unions first suggested it then we might not be in the position we find ourselves now."
The union is also challenging the National Party to come clean on what it would do to improve workplace health and safety after it criticised the Department today.

"National has previously said it would scrap health and safety reps and remove key safety protections 'by lunchtime'. Has their position changed, and, if not, how can they claim any credibility on this issue?"

ENDS

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