Labour says health and safety worse under National

Labour MP Darien Fenton says the number of people killed or injured in workplace incidents will be exacerbated by government policies. Photo / Glenn Jeffrey

The number of people killed or injured in workplace incidents will be exacerbated by government policies, Labour says.

Nearly 10,000 employees are killed or injured in workplace incidents each year, according the State of Workplace Health and Safety in New Zealand report, released yesterday.

The report showed industries such as construction, agriculture, forestry, fishing and manufacturing had consistently high work tolls.

The Labour Party's labour issues spokeswoman, Darien Fenton, said the Government's introduction of workplace experience ratings in the ACC scheme would actively discourage accident reporting, while union representatives had been shut out of dangerous workplaces.

"National has also failed to take into account the impact of the 90 day trial period, where workers can be fired for raising a health and safety issue," she said.

Ms Fenton said workplace fatality and injury rates were too high, with 85 workers killed in the past year.

"Sadly, the cost of National's decisions will be counted with the loss of workers in unnecessary loss of live and injury," she said.

Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson yesterday said the Department of Labour was developing industry-specific action plans to reduce the workplace death and injury toll.

"We want to see that number declining, particularly with regard to serious harm injuries," she said.

"Over time this report will allow us to better monitor the rate and costs of workplace harm and what effect safety campaigns or initiatives are having."

The report will be released annually.

- NZPA