August 11, 2014
CTU keeps up pressure over forest deaths
The Council of Trade Unions has lodged another private prosecution over a forestry worker's death.
President Helen Kelly says charges were laid on Friday over the death of Eramiha Pairama, 19, who died in forest near Whakatane in January 2013.
She says it's really the job of Worksafe to act, but the government agency has failed to act on the appalling accident rate in the forestry industry.
Ms Kelly says the accident and fatality rate has dropped this year, but that's because of a union campaing rather than action by the industry or government.
" We can't sustain that. You know we've got the review, we've got the union campaign, we've got Worksafe out there inspecting every contractor and finding lots of breaches but actually that's not sustainable we need structural change to embed that. Obviously they can be safer and they've chosen not be for the last ten years. What we've got make sure for the next ten years they are " she says.
Helen Kelly says the next Government needs to heed what is coming out of the Independent Forestry Safety Review, which has identified problems such as the lack of regulation around training standards and working conditions, low wages and long hours of work as factors in the high number of accidents.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH HELEN KELLY CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MjA5NTc=
Copyright © 2014, UMA Broadcasting Ltd