A goldmining company told a parliamentary committee that new health and safety rules should not apply to their industry, a day after part of their operation was shut down over the risk of trucks falling off a 50-metre cliff.
OceanaGold appeared before the transport and industrial relations committee yesterday to make a submission on legislation designed to improve health and safety in mines after the Pike River tragedy.
General manager Bernard O'Leary said the company, which has three mines in New Zealand, hadn't had a workplace death in 23 years of operating.
A day earlier the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) had placed a prohibition notice on tipping operations at the company's Reefton mine after finding that safety failures meant tipping tucks were at risk of falling down a vertical cliff.
Mr O'Leary told the committee part of the new legislation should not apply to operations above ground that do not mine coal.