4 May 2015

People trying to save lives don’t deserve abuse

WorkSafe New Zealand staff trying to save lives on farms shouldn’t be subjected to a tirade of verbal abuse from a Member of Parliament, Labour’s spokesperson for Labour Issues Iain Lees-Galloway says.

“Chester Borrows has labelled WorkSafe New Zealand officials ‘dickheads’ for trying to improve safety on our farms.

“Twenty people were killed on farms last year and agriculture has more fatalities than any other sector in New Zealand. Work-related quad bike accidents alone kill an average of five people and injure another 850 on farms every year.

“Chester Borrows attended many farm accidents as a police officer before becoming an MP and says he is aware of the risks.

“However in the same breath he says there’s too much ‘bullshit’ around rules to reduce these incidents.

“If the National MP for Whanganui has some constructive suggestions, he should meet with WorkSafe and discuss them.

“Encouraging people to ‘kick the shit’ out of the issue helps no one and is unbecoming of someone whose job is also to make New Zealand safer,” Iain Lees-Galloway says.

ends

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