Pike River anniversary: safety must start at the top

Pike River anniversary a reminder that safety must start at the top

November 18, 2013

The third anniversary of the Pike River tragedy is a solemn reminder of the critical role business leaders must play in keeping their people and their workplaces safe, the Business Leaders’ Health and Safety Forum says.

“Safety needs to be led from the top,” says Forum Executive Director Julian Hughes.

“Directors, CEOs and others in leadership positions must demonstrate through their everyday decisions that safety is as important as production and profit. If the leaders of an organisation don’t make safety a priority no one else will.

“When people’s lives are on the line, leaders must step up. It’s not good enough to leave safety to chance or claim safety is someone else’s responsibility.”

The Forum held two seminars earlier this year to identify and pass on key lessons from the Pike River tragedy to other business leaders. These lessons were captured in a case study available at: www.zeroharm.org.nz/leadership/case-studies/pike-river/

The case study summarises presentations given by: Nicholas Davidson QC, lawyer for the families at the Pike River Royal Commission; Kathleen Callaghan, expert witness to the Commission; and Ralph Chivers, former CEO of the Institute of Directors.

“The over-riding message from Pike River for leaders is that safety must start at the top and run right to the bottom of the organisation,” Mr Hughes says.

The Forum supports the government’s recently announced health and safety reforms, he says.

“Improving our performance is the only fitting legacy we can offer to the Pike River families.”

ENDS

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