19 July 2013
The forestry industry has been put on notice after the sixth death of a worker this year, just three days after another accident left a worker with serious leg injuries.
A 45-year-old Tokoroa man was killed off Tram Rd in the Tahorakuri Forest, about 20km northeast of Taupo, about 5.20am today. Police said the man died at the scene after being "hit by a large log''.
The death comes after a Wanganui forestry worker, thought to be in his 60s, suffered serious leg injuries while working in a remote block at Linton near Palmerston North on Tuesday.
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment's health and safety group is investigating the death.
Group general manager Ona de Rooy said the whole forestry industry had to step up its commitment to worker safety - and the ministry would take a strong stance against those who did not.
Ms de Rooy said the ministry had produced unambiguous guidelines on health and safety for the industry, and everyone had to commit to their implementation.
Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly said the death was "heartbreaking''. She said fatigue and a lack of adequate training were behind the forestry industry's safety record.
The union has renewed its calls for an inquiry into safety in the forestry sector - something Labour Minister Simon Bridges ruled out earlier this month, saying the Government's new health and safety group was likely to take a hard look at the sector.
Labour Minister Simon Bridges said he shared the concerns about too many forestry workers being seriously injured or killed but was firm in his view there is no need for an inquiry.
He said the revised code of practice in forestry would help improve workplace safety.
"We've just got make sure that the workers get it and understand it.''
He said the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment had a work plan around improving work safety in forestry.
"I have also set up Worksafe New Zealand, which is going to have a very strong focus on these high-hazard industries, such as forestry, but also construction, agriculture and fisheries.''
Source: NZ Herald article by Matthew Backhouse. To read the full article, click here.