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Second Forest Death this year
Second Forest Death this year
The
CTU is saddened but not surprised that already this year
there have been two deaths and three serious injuries in the
Forest Sector.
“The report of a forestry worker killed at work yesterday is tragically the second of many for the year to come, unless the Government steps up and puts a break on the manner in which the forestry industry is operating” Helen Kelly, CTU President said.
The CTU
has called for an inquiry into the most dangerous industry
in NZ in which 33 workers have died and 874 have been
seriously injured since 2008.
“The Ministry of
Business, Innovation and Employment is not taking this
matter seriously enough. Late last year they released new
standards for the industry which are completely inadequate
and far inferior to Australian and other international
forestry standards. The Ministry is collaborating with the
industry to fund “safety” breakfasts to which unions
have been excluded and even the provision of information to
workers on work rights has been denied, and it continues to
blame workers for these deaths in its investigations without
seeking out the underlying causes” Helen Kelly said.
"The industry response is always that “one death is
too many” but what about 33?"
"We are again
calling on the Minister of Labour to get together a group of
experts who can carefully identify the issues in the
industry that is causing this carnage. We know from the
Pike River inquiry that there can be serious shortfalls in
health and safety practice that require a strong response.
The Forestry Industry is a Pike River every 5 years. The
Forest owners have shown contempt for the criticism to date
and need to have stricter rules and controls on the manner
in which these trees are being harvested," Helen Kelly
said.
ENDS
New Zealand Council of Trade Unions
Te Kauae Kaimahi
The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi brings together over 350,000 New Zealand union members in 40 affiliated unions. We are the united voice for working people and their families in New Zealand.
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