Darien Fenton
Labour Spokesperson
Health and Safety Spokesperson

1 August 2013

Bridges needs to lift his game

New Zealand workers continue to be exposed to inadequate health and safety inspection while the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment plays around with restructuring an already stretched workforce, says Labour’s Health and Safety spokesperson Darien Fenton.

“Health and Safety Inspectors have been subjected to a continuous and exhausting process of review, including the latest – preparing them for transfer to the new health and safety agency, Worksafe.

“This process, somewhat ironically called ‘Lifting our Game’, but more aptly labelled ‘Shifting the Blame’ by inspectors, has been highly stressful and badly handled.

“The result has been the disappearance of more than 300 years of combined experience, as skilled workers have voted with their feet.

“The Minister of Labour, Simon Bridges, promised 158 inspectors by 1 July in response to concerns raised by the Royal Commission on Pike River. This target has not been met.

“The inspectorate has fewer than 100 warranted inspectors, and despite an active recruitment strategy and new trainees being appointed, is unlikely to have the 158 warranted inspectors before mid-2014.

“What this means is that health and safety inspections will continue to be under-resourced, and nothing will change in high-risk sectors, such as forestry, an industry in which six people have died already this year.

“This is the lowest number of inspectors we’ve had in years and leaves Kiwi workers exposed and vulnerable.

“It’s not acceptable. It is Mr. Bridges who needs to lift his game.

ENDS

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