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