Workplace accidents highlight poor health and safety record

Two fatal work accidents in the past week have highlighted the importance of safety procedures at work, and New Zealand's poor health and safety record.

A worker was killed and others injured in a Watercare tunnel project in Onehunga, Auckland. An EPMU member is in hospital with a fractured pelvis.

A Filipino worker employed by Electrix was killed and another seriously injured at the Transpower Makara project near Wellington. Neither was a union member.

EPMU acting national secretary Bill Newson says the union continues to be concerned about workplace health and safety. He lists the Pike River mine disaster, attacks on ACC, a 40% reduction in the number of health and safety inspectors over the last 20 years, recent reductions of senior personnel in health and safety roles at the Labour Department, and reduced funding for health and safety representative training. 'What it all adds up to is increased risk for workers,' says Newson.

According to a new government report released last week (2 June), about 9,500 incidents are reported to the Department of Labour annually. In the last 12 months there have been 85 deaths, 445 serious non-fatal injuries and 30,800 ACC entitlement claims.

New Zealand's rate of workplace deaths continues to be higher than other OECD countries. The rate for this year is also likely to grow, as figures will include the 29 men who died in the Pike River mine disaster.

Industry sectors with consistently high levels of work-related injuries are construction, agriculture, forestry, fishing and manufacturing. EPMU organises across three of these sectors - construction, forestry and manufacturing - as well as mining.

ENDS

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