Darien Fenton
Health and Safety Spokesperson

8 May 2013

Petition calls for inquiry into forestry safety

Forestry workers will continue to be killed on the job unless something is done to improve safety on the forestry industry, Labour’s Health and Safety spokesperson Darien Fenton is warning.

A petition in the name of Darien Fenton and presented by Green MP Denise Roche has been tabled in Parliament today asking the government to conduct an inquiry into forestry safety.

The petition is on behalf of Caroline Callow, the mother of forestry worker, Ken Callow who died in Wharerata Forest in October 2011.

“Forestry is the most dangerous industry in New Zealand,” says Darien Fenton.

“Already there have been four deaths this year. 28 workers have died since 2008 and nearly 900 have been seriously injured.

“The families of those killed or injured in New Zealand forests are pleading with the government to wake up and do something, or more workers will continue to die.

“Urgent action needs to be taken to stop the needless deaths and injuries in this industry and the petition gives the government a way to look at the evidence and find real solutions.

“It is well past time something was done to improve the safety of forestry workers, and I hope the government will take this petition seriously,” says Darien Fenton.

ENDS

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