Many questions remain over forestry deaths

Niko Brooking died in a forestry accident north of Napier in August. His father still wants answers.

Niko Brooking will never see his daughter attend school or walk her down the aisle.

The 24-year-old was killed in a forestry accident in August.

His employers DG Glenn Logging picked him up the morning of August 22 but he never came home.

WorkSafe is investigating how the forestry worker was struck by a steel cable while he was working in Pohakura Forest, north of Napier.

Niko had died by the time the Lowe Corporation Rescue Helicopter arrived.

His father Richard Brooking said he should have been "fresh" for work that Monday. He still has many questions that he wants answers to.

Like why so many young men are still dying in our forests.

Niko's death came just months after his foreman Blair Palmer, 53, died when a tree fell on him in the same forest.

Mr Brooking spoke candidly to Hawke's Bay Today this month. He said he had waited to speak publicly until he could do so without "tearing up".

"We take each day as it comes and try and carry on."

It's not easy losing a son, he said.

The festive season would be tinged with sadness and anger that he was not there to help his daughter unwrap her presents.

Mr Brooking said his 3-year-old granddaughter knows her father is gone but doesn't understand why.

"Everyone is getting there slowly, it's still tough. Now and again you just break down and cry but you have to carry on."

Niko had three passions in life, his family, his sport and his job.

He was a former Poverty Bay representative and Gisborne Pirates club rugby player but had recently been playing in the premier Clive Rugby team as blindside flanker and lock.
He'd recently moved to Napier for the work.

He worked hard to provide for his family, Mr Brooking said.

Each year between 50 and 60 people are killed in workplace accidents. There are three times more workplace deaths in New Zealand than in the United Kingdom and almost double that of Australia.

Health and Safety legislation was overhauled to try to reduce the number of fatalities.

Every "person conducting a business or undertaking" (PCBU) is liable for fines of up to $3 million for a company and up to five years' jail and fines of up to $600,000 for company chief executives and directors.

The previous penalty was up to two years' jail and a $500,000 fine.

D G Glenn Logging and Pan Pac Forest Products, as owners of the forest where Mr Palmer and Mr Brooking were working, are considered to be PCBUs.

Pan Pac chief managing director Doug Ducker said WorkSafe had completed its investigation in to Mr Palmer's death and no charges were being laid against Pan Pac. DG Logging owner Dennis Glenn declined to comment.

WorkSafe is still investigating Niko Brooking's death.

Mr Ducker said Pan Pac had identified areas where communication could be improved to eliminate risk.

In terms of safety, it was a disastrous year for the company which in its 45-plus year history has six fatalities linked to it - two were workers, four were contractors.

"2016 is a year we can put behind us," Mr Ducker said. "The families are never far from our thoughts."

Mr Brooking agrees still too many people are not coming home to their family.
He lays blame at the employer's feet.

"It's all about the dollar that's what I reckon it is.

Mr Ducker categorically denied this. There was no time pressure on the men when the fatal accidents happened, he said.

"Neither incident was down to haste or undue priority."

Mr Brooking was also unhappy with how ACC conducted its entitlement meeting following Niko's death.

He laid a complaint with the corporation.

An ACC spokeswoman said the Gisborne branch manager and the IP&M consultant manager contacted Mr Brooking last month to talk with him about his concerns.

However, Mr Brooking spoke highly of the WorkSafe staff who were investigating just what happened that day.

Mr Ducker said safety was always a priority, before and after the tightening of the health and safety laws.

"Until all deaths have been eliminated more can always be done."