‘Aftermath’ Gives Human Face to Accident Stats
“This is long overdue research which not only gives workplace accident statistics a human face, but also highlights the
huge emotional and financial cost of accidents,” Council of Trade Unions president Ross Wilson said today.
The Department of Labour’s Occupational Safety and Health service and ACC released today a study of the social and
economic consequences of workplace Injury and illness.
“The Department of Labour and ACC have produced very valuable research evidence which will help us all to focus on
prevention strategies rather than the current media fixation with the cost in fines on employers who fail to comply with
the minimum legal standards,” said Ross Wilson.
“The report brings home to us in very human terms the far-reaching emotional cost of quite minor accidents,” he said.
“The harrowing stories remind us that there is a huge ‘compliance cost’ for workers and their families when employers
fail to comply with the law.
“But they also focus on the enormous financial cost of accidents, and the public interest in ensuring that everything
possible is done to prevent them,” he said.
Ross Wilson said the report lends further weight to the urgency of putting in place workplace health and safety law
which will prevent workplace accidents from happening.