Plan to Reduce Manufacturing Work Toll

MEDIA RELEASE
6 december 2011
Feedback Sought on Plan to Reduce Manufacturing Work Toll

A plan aimed at addressing the number of people dying and being seriously injured working in the manufacturing sector has been released for consultation.

Between 2005 and 2010, 26 manufacturing workers died in New Zealand. The sector has the highest rate of ACC claims, costing the country $124 million alone in the 2009-2010 year.

The Department of Labour is seeking feedback on the draft Manufacturing Sector Action Plan part of the National Action Agenda to reduce the work toll in the five sectors where the most harm is occurring; construction, forestry, agriculture, manufacturing and fishing.

Sector Action Plans are being developed in partnership with key stakeholders within each sector. To date, the Construction Sector Action Plan - focusing on slips, trips and falls from height and the Forestry Sector Action Plan - focusing on tree felling and breaking out – have been released.

A large number of accidents in manufacturing directly relate to the unsafe use of machinery and vehicles – in the 2009-2010 year those accidents resulted in nearly $14 million in ACC claims.

The Manufacturing Sector Action Plan sets out a number of initiatives to reduce the manufacturing work toll, with a specific focus on machinery, vehicles, at-risk groups and increased data gathering.

These issues will only be successfully addressed as a result of concerted efforts by all those who have a role to play in reducing the work toll. Consequently the draft plan has been developed by the Department in consultation with more than 20 sector organisations and business groups, all of whom are committed to making a difference.

It provides a purposeful rallying point for agencies and the manufacturing sector and is open for consultation until 19 December – with a final version expected to be released in early 2012.

ENDS
Notes to Editor
• To comment on the Manufacturing Sector Action Plan visit our website
• Organisations and business groups involved in the Action Plan include Business New Zealand, Northern Employers and Manufacturers’ Association New Zealand, Manufacturers and Exporters’ Association, Joinery ITO, and Fonterra
• More information on the National Action Agenda and Sector Action Plans is available online.

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