November 15, 2013
New Zealand miners will be safer at work
The passage of the Pike River Implementation Bill is a victory for health and safety at work and will keep Kiwi miners
safe, says the union for miners, the EPMU.
The EPMU congratulates Minister of Labour Simon Bridges for driving through the Bill, which puts in place all of the
recommendations of the Pike River Royal Commission.
“It was very important to us that the mining industry learn the lessons of Pike River so every miner is able to come
home safe and well from work,” says Ged O’Connell, EPMU assistant national secretary.
“This Bill, together with the new regulations on mining companies, makes those lessons law. The Government has done the
right thing by the men who lost their lives at Pike River.”
Thirteen of the miners killed at Pike River were EPMU members. The EPMU will be represented at a service on the
anniversary of the disaster in Greymouth on 19 November.
ENDS