Political Opposition A Factor In Workplace Death Toll

Constant public statements from employer spokespeople and opposition politicians that workplaces are safe enough may have contributed to the worst work accident death toll for a decade the president of the Council of Trade Unions Ross Wilson told the Auckland Employers and Manufacturers Association Employment Relations Conference today."The OSH recorded work accident death toll is already up to 71 compared with 39 last year" Ross Wilson said

"One significant difference in the environment this year has been the constant stream of public attacks by employer spokespeople and ACT and National Party politicians against the proposed new osh legislation."

"The message they are sending is that safety laws are an unfair compliance cost on employers, and that New Zealand workplaces are safe enough" Ross Wilson said

"And that gives a licence to poor employers not to do anything about health and safety protection for workers"

"It is time we send a consistent message, from political, business and union leaders alike, that the present appalling death toll is not good enough and that urgent action must be taken by employers and employees to clean up unsafe workplaces" Ross Wilson said "And that must be backed up by strong laws".

"We need to change the public discourse so that workplace injury prevention and health protection is seen as an investment, and a benefit to everyone."