Government has let quarry workers down

Unions are dismayed at the second death of a worker in a quarry within less than a month. “Our hearts go out to the families and co-workers of Scott Baldwin, who was killed on 19 March in South Timaru, and the yet-unnamed worker, who died yesterday in Tauranga” said Jeff Sissons, CTU General Counsel.

“It is tragic that these deaths occurred in quarries. Health and safety laws in mining were strengthened in 2013 responding to the recommendations of the Royal Commission into the Tragedy at Pike River Mine. But after lobbying from industry and assurances that quarries were safer than mines, the Government excluded quarries from the protections of the new law.“

“One of the most important exclusions was industry health and safety representatives. These representatives go from workplace to workplace checking on systems and providing advice on best practice. Perhaps an industry health and safety representative might have provided advice that saved these workers’ lives.”

“The Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment said that instead of legislating they intended to “work with the quarry industry to develop a set of quarry specific guidelines, with a longer term view to developing quarry specific regulations” (Departmental Report p 14). These guidelines are still in draft and the regulations nowhere on the horizon.”

“By bowing to industry pressure, the Government let these workers down.”

“There is a chance to fix this: The Health and Safety Reform Bill currently before Select Committee could be amended to include quarries in the full range of mining protections (including industry health and safety representatives). Specific regulations for quarries should be urgently made. These would be big steps towards stopping further deaths or injuries,” Sissons said.

ENDS

© Scoop Media