Monday 31 January 2012

Media Release

Former Pike CEO’s role as safety consultant insensitive

Former Pike River CEO Peter Whittall’s role as a mine safety consultant is insensitive to the families of the Pike 29 and a slap in the face to the mining community, says the Union that represents miners.

Despite facing multiple charges relating to the Pike River mine disaster, Peter Whittall has set up a business to advise the minerals industry on management, technical and safety matters.

“Miners are very practical and safety conscious people. They will want to know the outcome of Pike River inquiry, what happened in the mine and who was responsible for what happened. We would have expected someone with a history in mining to understand and respect that,” says EPMU assistant national secretary, Ged O’Connell.

“The EPMU has deep concerns over what happened at Pike River and for the future direction of mine safety across our mining industry. It’s inappropriate and a slap in the face for the mining community to have Peter Whittall advising mine management on safety while the Department of Labour case against him is still pending,” says Mr O’Connell.

ENDS

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