The Minister of Labour announced today that she is considering a committee of inquiry into rail safety after a further Tranz Rail shunter was killed at work in Christchurch today.

“This is the fifth Tranz Rail employee who has been killed at work in the past seven months and I believe that the public interest requires that we find out more about the causes of these accidents and, even more importantly, what can be done to prevent such tragedies in the future,” the Minister of Labour, Hon Margaret Wilson, said today

“I am therefore considering a Committee of Inquiry and am taking advice,” Ms Wilson said.

“These accidents are a tragedy for the family and friends and workmates of these workers and as Minister of Labour I want to know how they occurred and what we can learn about the adequacy of both the Tranz Rail prevention systems and the statutory framework and its enforcement,” Ms Wilson said.

ENDS

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