KEY POINTS:
The conviction of the Black River Mining company for unsafe work practices after the death of a miner confirms the need for mine check inspectors, says the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union.
Runanga miner Robert McGowan, 39, died when a flooded area of old mines engulfed the underground Black Reef mine near Dunollie, 8km northeast of Greymouth, on March 8, 2006.
The mining company, its manager Garry Haddow and a geologist, whose name was suppressed, were found guilty of failing to ensure workers' safety in the Greymouth District Court were ordered to pay $50,000 reparation between them to Mr McGowan's widow.
The geologist and the mine company were also fined $10,000 each and Haddow $2000.
EPMU national secretary Andrew Little said the court's ruling added further weight to its call for reinstatement of mandatory check inspectors.
"Mining is a dangerous job and employers have an obligation to ensure the safety of their staff is paramount.
"That means providing check inspectors to make sure no one goes underground without the right training and equipment."
Mr Little said the need for tighter safety measures was even more important in the smaller private mines where sometimes the owners were unaware of all the risks.
"Check inspectors are not a new idea. Until 1992 these positions were required by regulation and they still exist in the UK and Australia as a proven way of significantly increasing worker safety," Mr Little said.
Mr McGowan's death might have been avoided if checks had been put in place, he said.
- NZPA
