Department’s solution for mine safety does not go far enough

Department’s solution for mine safety does not go far enough, says miners’ union

The Department of Labour’s solution for the future of mine safety in New Zealand does not go anywhere far enough in terms of providing for strong, regulated and empowered workers’ voice, says the miners’ union, the EPMU.

“The Department makes the right noises about mine safety in terms of referring to the ‘three pillars of support’ but is too scant on detail about the critical pillar of the workers’ voice in mine health and safety management,” says Ged O’Connell, EPMU assistant national secretary. “Our analysis of the Pike River tragedy is that the mine workers were completely marginalised in terms of being able to raise concerns about mine safety and what was happening underground.”

“We need a statutory regime that gives full recognition and support to workers’ in mine safety management – in the form of check inspectors, in line with the international best practice approach in Queensland mines.” Says Mr O’Connell. “This is about taking a genuine tripartite approach to mine safety involving the state, employers and workers.”

The EPMU will be making its final submissions to the Pike River Royal Commission in Greymouth this week.

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