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Anger building over worker deaths

Author
Frances Cook ,
Publish Date
Wed, 10 Jun 2015, 5:03am
The scene of the recent quarry incident, which resulted in the death of a digger driver. (Westpac Rescue Helicopter)
The scene of the recent quarry incident, which resulted in the death of a digger driver. (Westpac Rescue Helicopter)

Anger building over worker deaths

Author
Frances Cook ,
Publish Date
Wed, 10 Jun 2015, 5:03am

Despite regular deaths in risky industries, there is still no change to health and safety laws - and anger is mounting.

The body of a quarry worker in North Canterbury still remains inside crushed cab of the digger he was driving. 1000 tonnes of limestone fell on Murray Taylor while he was working on Monday afternoon.

Taylor is the owner of Heathstock Haulage that operates the limestone mine.

Both the Labour and Green parties are urging the government to move faster on an overhaul of health and safety regulations.

New Zealand First's spokesperson for labour and industrial relations Clayton Mitchell has joined the call for more action. He believes delays in plugging the gaps are sickening.

"In 2010 when we had the Pike River disaster, we had the Royal Commission of Inquiry came out...we're still sitting there waiting to see some implementation done."

Mitchell said bringing in the right people would tighten up the industry, without getting creating more red tape.

"The checks and balances are the parts that are missing. You've got two mine safety inspectors doing the entire country."

Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly said yesterday the government's refusal to change the safety laws makes workers vulnerable.

"This is a very small industry in New Zealand, and to have this number of accidents in the short period of time since they made that decision, should really make the government think," Kelly said.

Labour's Iain Lees-Galloway said that "New Zealand has a very poor health and safety record, we compare very poorly to other OECD countries, and we really do need to get on with it."

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