Reducing Workplace Injury Toll

Minister of Labour Ruth Dyson has welcomed the release of the New Zealand
Construction Industry Health and Safety Strategy as a way to bring down
this country's workplace injury toll.

"Construction is the third most dangerous industry in New Zealand. In the
year to June 2006 construction fatalities have risen to 12," said Ruth
Dyson, at the launch in Parliament's Grand Hall on Thursday night.

Led by the Construction Industry Council, it is the first
industry-developed health and safety strategy specifically aimed at
addressing New Zealand's high injury rate on construction sites. The new
strategy complements the Department of Labour's Workplace Health and Safety
Strategy.

"This work toll is an unacceptable cost, to the workers, to their families
and to the industry. The Construction Industry Health and Safety Strategy
is vital to reducing this toll, and because it is industry-driven and
industry-developed, it has a greater chance in succeeding in reducing
worker injury and death rates."

The Strategy can be downloaded from www.sitesafe.org.nz (look under "NZ
Construction Industry Council".)

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