News

Workers encouraged to ‘Stand Up, Be Safe'

Sun, 05 May 2013 00:00:00 +1200

Workers are being encouraged to stand up and be safe at work in a new union campaign to ensure they come home to their families free from injury or illness.

The ‘Stand Up, Be Safe' campaign is organised by the EPMU, which represents workers in some of New Zealand's most hazardous industries.

The union is holding meetings at manufacturing firms all over New Zealand encouraging workers to get organised on health and safety, regardless of whether they are union members or not.

EPMU health and safety coordinator Fritz Drissner says the campaign comes amid growing awareness of the need to reduce New Zealand's appalling rate of workplace deaths, injuries and illness.

"Both the Pike River Royal Commission and the Health & Safety Taskforce are clear that New Zealand's workplace health and safety regime is woefully inadequate and needs major reform.

"These reports also make clear that workers need to have a stronger voice on health and safety if we're going to reduce our rate of workplace harm.

"Stand Up, Be Safe is about putting that into action by making sure workers know their rights and feel confident speaking up. We're encouraging workers to set up workplace health and safety committees, elect their own health and safety reps and say no to unsafe work.

"Workers and employers also need to work together to create a ‘no blame' culture. The fear factor needs to be removed in health and safety to encourage workers to report incidents and dangerous occurrences.

"Strengthening our laws and regulations is necessary but by itself it won't be enough. We need to change the culture if we're going to make our workplaces safe."

Around 100 New Zealanders die at work every year, the equivalent of three Pike Rivers. Another 500 to 800 people die prematurely each year because of occupational illness.

ENDS

For more information contact:

Fritz Drissner, EPMU health and safety coordinator: 027 590 5086
Neale Jones, EPMU communications director: 027 276 5146

EPMU welcomes Health & Safety Taskforce report

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +1200

The Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union has welcomed the report of the Health & Safety Taskforce and is urging the Government to implement it in full.

The report recommends a new standalone crown agency dedicated to health and safety, a new workplace health and safety Act based on international best practice, increased worker participation and action to create a more positive health and safety culture.

"This is a groundbreaking report and the Taskforce deserves to be congratulated for its courage and vision," says EPMU assistant national secretary Ged O'Connell.

"The report is clear that the period of deregulation in the 1980s and ‘90s has made New Zealand's workplaces less safe and contributed to our appalling rate of workplace deaths and injuries.

"The Pike River tragedy is the most shocking example of this, but the reality is the number of workplace deaths in New Zealand is equivalent to two or three Pike Rivers every year.

"This report provides compelling evidence that health and safety in this country needs a major overhaul, and that means strengthening the law, giving workers more voice and properly resourcing our health and safety regime.

"We are confident that these recommendations, if implemented, would have a dramatic effect on workplace health and safety in New Zealand."

The EPMU represents workers in some of New Zealand's most dangerous industries, including mining, construction and manufacturing.

The union is currently running ‘Stand Up, Be Safe' meetings across New Zealand setting up workplace health and safety committees and educating workers about their right to a safe workplace.

ENDS

For more information contact:

Ged O'Connell, EPMU assistant national secretary: 027 532 8152
Neale Jones, EPMU communications director: 027 276 5146

Court should throw the book at Pike River Coal

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +1200

The EPMU has welcomed the Greymouth District Court's decision to find Pike River Coal Ltd guilty of serious health and safety breaches and is calling for the sentencing judge to impose the maximum penalty.

EPMU assistant national secretary Ged O'Connell says the sentencing judge should throw the book at Pike River Coal.

"It's a matter of public record that the people running Pike River Coal put production over the safety of their workforce, leading directly to the deaths of 29 men.

"This is the most serious breach of our workplace health and safety laws in at least a generation and the sentence must reflect the gravity of the crime. We would expect to see no less than the maximum fine levelled, as well as reparations for the families of the 29 miners."

Mr O'Connell says the case also shows the need for changes to the law.

"The reality is Pike River Coal is now little more than a shell company that's now in receivership. The accountability must lie with the directors and management who actually made the decisions.

"Pike River Coal's directors should not be able to hide behind shabby legal structures and carry on as if nothing ever happened. It's time we had corporate manslaughter laws and personal liability for directors so we can hold those responsible accountable for their actions.

"New Zealand's miners and their families also need to see the recommendations of the Pike River Royal Commission implemented as soon as possible and we encourage the Government to carry on its good work putting this into action."

ENDS

For more information contact:

Ged O'Connell, EPMU assistant national secretary: 027 532 8152
Neale Jones, EPMU communications director: 027 276 5146

EPMU welcomes Pike River implementation plan

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 00:00:00 +1300

The EPMU is welcoming the Pike River implementation plan released today by the Government today.

EPMU assistant national secretary Ged O'Connell says the plan is good news for miners and their families.

"Mine safety is a matter of life and death for our members, so we are pleased to see the Government recognises the importance of implementing the Royal Commission's recommendations without reservation or delay.

"This plan is comprehensive, it's inclusive and we believe it provides a positive framework for getting the decisions right. The involvement of stakeholders is encouraging and we would like to see unions and the community consulted on all recommendations.

"The decision to widen the scope of the recommendations to include opencast mining is sensible and shows the lessons of Pike River apply in other high hazard industries and indeed for health and safety in New Zealand generally.

"The makeup of the expert reference group on mining safety and regulation is also welcome, as it includes significant expertise from Queensland, which has world's best practice in mine safety.

"The EPMU looks forward to working with the Government to implement the Royal Commission's recommendations."

The EPMU is the union for New Zealand miners and has been campaigning for improved mine safety since the 1990s.

ENDS

For more information contact:

Ged O'Connell, EPMU assistant national secretary: 027 532 8152
Neale Jones, EPMU communications director: 027 276 5146

Miners' union mourns Pike River 29

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 00:00:00 +1300

The EPMU will host a public memorial in Blackball this evening together with the local community to commemorate the two year anniversary of the Pike River tragedy.

The memorial will take place from 6pm at the Blackball Workers' Museum.

EPMU assistant national secretary Ged O'Connell says:

"This evening's service is about honouring the 29 men who died at Pike River. We will stand with the families and with the local community and we will mourn this loss together.

"We acknowledge the efforts of the families to recover the bodies of their loved ones and we will continue to support the recovery in any way we can.

"But while we mourn for the dead, we must also fight for the living.

"The Royal Commission's report shows this tragedy was avoidable, and our union will continue to campaign for the report's recommendations to be implemented in full.

"If we are to truly honour the memory of the Pike River 29 then we must ensure this is never allowed to happen again."

ENDS

For more information contact:

Ged O'Connell, EPMU assistant national secretary: 027 532 8152
Neale Jones, EPMU communications director: 027 276 5146

EPMU welcomes Pike River report

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 00:00:00 +1300

The Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing welcomes the Pike River Royal Commission report and is encouraging the Government to implement the changes as soon as possible.

EPMU assistant national secretary Ged O'Connell says the report should mark a turning point for mine safety in New Zealand.

"This report is a damning indictment of New Zealand's deregulated health and safety regime. Pike River Coal Ltd should never have been allowed to operate in the way it did, and in other countries it wouldn't have been allowed to.

"The report makes clear that the tragic loss of life at Pike River could have been prevented with stronger regulations, an independent and well-resourced mine safety inspectorate and genuine worker involvement in health and safety.

"We hope the failings exposed in this report spell the end of the deregulated health and safety regime of the last 20 years. This vindicates the union's repeated calls for improvements in mine safety and for the reintroduction of check inspectors."

Mr O'Connell says the union supports the Royal Commission's recommendations.

"The recommendations in this report are exactly what our union has been calling for. If implemented, they will bring New Zealand's mine safety regime up to international standards.

"We are particularly pleased so see the re-introduction of worker-elected check inspectors, a strong focus on strengthening mine safety regulations and the creation of a new Crown agency to monitor health and safety.

"We hope the Government will implement the report's recommendations as soon as possible. If the 29 men who lie in the mine are not to have died in vain then these recommendations must be implemented without delay and without reservation."

ENDS

For more information contact:

Ged O'Connell, EPMU assistant national secretary: 027 532 8152
Neale Jones, EPMU communications director: 027 276 5146

Huntly East miners demand elected check inspectors at Solid Energy

Fri, 22 Jun 2012 00:00:00 +1200

Coal miners at Huntly East mine have voted unanimously to demand Solid Energy improves mine safety by immediately instituting a system of worker-elected check inspectors and dropping its opposition to such a scheme being made a legal requirement nationwide.

Worker-elected check inspectors are a key part of Queensland's mining regulations, which are considered the international best practice in mine safety.

The call was made at a meeting of 120 Huntly East miners this afternoon which discussed the continuing suspension of coal production at the mine due to concerns over a potentially dangerous build-up of methane gas.

EPMU assistant national secretary Ged O'Connell says Solid Energy needs to listen to its workforce and back worker-elected check inspectors.

"Solid Energy can't credibly claim it supports lifting New Zealand's sorry mine safety regulations to international standards while it refuses to allow check inspectors and lobbies against law changes to make them compulsory.

"Our members have spoken clearly. They want a check inspector who's independent of the company, trusted by the workforce and is there underground to raise the alarm at the first sign of trouble.

"We know from Pike River that mining companies can be conflicted between their desire to increase production and the safety needs of the workforce, and that even with the best will in the world the mines inspectorate can't be there all the time.

"Solid Energy needs to listen to the men who risk their lives every day underground and put safety first by supporting the full adoption of Queensland-style mine safety regulations, including check inspectors."

The resolution reads:

That this meeting of Huntly Solid Energy miners request our employer to:

Immediately institute a system of worker-elected health & safety check inspectors.
Support changes to mine safety legislation in line with the Queensland model, including worker elected check Inspectors.

Carried unanimously.

ENDS

For more information contact:

Ged O'Connell, EPMU assistant national secretary: 027 532 8152

Neale Jones, EPMU communications director: 027 276 5146

Stronger mine safety regulations needed - EPMU

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 00:00:00 +1200

The EPMU is calling for improved safety protections for underground miners following the mines inspectorate's decision to stop production at Huntly East due to concerns over methane gas build up.

EPMU assistant national secretary Ged O'Connell says that while the mines inspectorate's actions in this case are welcome, another layer of protection is needed.

"We understand the prohibition notice is a precautionary measure at this stage and we welcome the inspectorate's proactive approach. Our first priority is the safety of our members and the inspectorate's willingness to put safety first in this case is reassuring.

"However, New Zealand still has essentially the same mine safety regime as it did before Pike River, and until the Government brings our safety regulations up to international standard New Zealand's underground miners will continue to be put at risk.

"We are calling on the Government to adopt stronger mine safety regulations based on the Queensland model, which is considered the international best practice.

"One of the key elements of the Queensland model is worker-elected check inspectors who ensure underground miners have an independent and trusted safety representative on the job to raise the alarm as soon as potential safety hazards arise.

"As a safety-conscious company we would expect Solid Energy to support these calls."

The EPMU represents nearly every underground miner in New Zealand, including 180 at Huntly East mine.

For more information contact:

Ged O'Connell, EPMU assistant national secretary: 027 532 8152

Neale Jones, EPMU communications director: 027 276 5146

Government review of health and safety needs to focus on how to achieve a strong worker voice

Thu, 03 May 2012 00:00:00 +1200

How to achieve a strong and effective worker voice in workplace health and safety must be a critical objective of the Government's review of the country's health and safety law and regulations, says the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU).

"The Government is moving in the right direction with this review initiative and the news that it will be expanding the capacity of the health and safety inspectorate," says EPMU assistant national secretary, Ged O'Connell. "However we know that we have a serious issue when it comes to workers having real say in the day to day management of workplace health and safety."

"The current law and regulations are very weak in terms of giving workers the ability to deal with, and challenge, workplace dangers and unsafe behaviours. Many workers feel they can't speak out because of the fear of being intimidated and suffering repercussions from the boss," says Mr O'Connell.

The EPMU is concerned about the persistently high rate of accidents and death at work in New Zealand and to address this this, believes the management of workplace health and safety needs to be a true partnership between workers and their unions, employers and the government as regulator.

"The greatest barrier we face at present is that most of the power to manage and change workplace health and safety culture rests with employers, says Mr O'Connell. "Many workers feel that have no power to change what happens at work and therefore are often condemned to work in unsafe situations."

The EPMU's involvement with the Safe Rebuild Canterbury initiative - a partnership between the union, employers and government to address health and safety around the rebuild of Christchurch - is an example of what is possible if there is a willingness to work together to achieve safe jobs, says Mr O'Connell.

He says the EPMU will be supporting the Government review of health and safety on the basis there is a genuine and authentic desire to address workplace safety through giving workers real voice.

Union confident about health and safety systems at Huntly coalmine

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +1300

The union representing miners at Solid Energy's Huntly East operation, the EPMU, is confident there are good systems in place for health and safety management at the underground coalmine.

Solid Energy is holding a public meeting in Huntly this afternoon to outline what is happening at the mine in response to concerns about possible health and safety breaches involving gas levels. An EPMU official and union members will also be attending the meeting.

"We're not aware of any complaints of the order of a Pike River-like health and safety situation at Huntly East," says Ged O'Connell, EPMU assistant national secretary. "We are aware of a recent event that has led to an investigation by Solid Energy and the Department of Labour."

The EPMU is strongly advocating for better mine safety and stronger regulation in the wake of the 2010 Pike River coalmine disaster in which 29 miners were killed.

"We are confident that Solid Energy is not a Pike operation and there's a much higher level of accountability and responsibility because it is a state owned enterprise," says O'Connell. "There's also a large amount of across-the-board experience and knowledge of underground coal mining at Huntly, unlike Pike River where there was very little. However, one pressure point that's developing is the loss of experienced miners to Australia who are attracted by better pay and conditions."

O'Connell says the EPMU is recognised by Solid Energy as playing an integral role in mine safety at Huntly and has strong network of union health and safety representatives, delegates and officials working with the company to constantly monitor and improve health and safety systems.

"However, while we have a good level of engagement with Solid Energy we are still advocating at the national level for a world's best practice approach to underground mining safety where we'd have the three-legged stool of excellent regulations, a highly competent and effective government inspectorate and worker-elected mine check inspectors," says O'Connell.