Workplace deaths since Pike River disaster 'simply not good enough' - Anna Osborne

Ms Osborne, wife of Milton Osborne who died in Pike River, said New Zealand needs to improve its working culture.

As  plans for re-entry into the Pike River drift  were announced today, New Zealand's health and safety in the workplace was pulled into focus by a member of the Pike River families. 

Anna Osborne, who lost her husband Milton, spoke at today's announcement of the fight the families had for their men, what re-entry meant to them and highlighted New Zealand's work place safety culture.

She stood side-by-side with Sonya Rockhouse and Bernie Monk, each holding a photo of their loved one who died in the Pike River disaster. Anna held Milton, Sonya held her son Ben and Bernie held his son Michael. 

Milton Osborne was one of 29 men who never made it home from Pike River Mine in November 2010.

"Our men went to work that day, they didn't expect not to return home to their loved ones, we didn't expect not to ever see them again," Anna said. 

"For our men, we couldn't just let things lie and say that's it and wash our hands of it. We need answers to questions we don't have."

Mr Little outlined the Government’s plan in Wellington today, eight years after 29 men died in the mine.

She said it was a truly amazing day for the families, however, since the Pike River disaster, hundreds of New Zealanders had been killed in the workplace.

"That's simply not good enough. We need to change our working culture in New Zealand. It's been hard enough for the Pike River families, we don't want any other deaths in the workplace, we need to up our game as far as health and safety is concerned."

WorkSafe told 1 NEWS that since December 2010 there had been 375 workplace fatalities.

A spokesperson said WorkSafe supported Ms Osborne’s view that New Zealand needs to be doing a better job of health and safety.

Fatalities Notified to WorkSafe New Zealand 2013 - 2018

Richard Wagstaff, president of CTU, said the Pike River tragedy was a major wake up call for New Zealand, but changing attitudes and the culture of work was not a quick fix.

"There's a long way to go, progress is being made, people are taking it seriously but it's a massive task. The Pike River disaster was a terrible tragedy. What we've got to do is learn from it."

He thought Ms Osborne highlighting workplace deaths during her speech today showed "amazing courage and spirit and tenacity".

"She's done an incredible job, not just for the Pike community but for all of us to head the message that if we don't get better at this more people will die and there'll be more tragedy. 

"She really puts a human face on this major challenge we've got and I think she's a real reminder to everyone that tragedy is real if we don't do something about it."

He said changing New Zealand’s culture was a sticking point in workplace deaths. 

"We absolutely need a good regulator who will enforce the law, we need good management and we need strong voice for working people."

Workplace Safety Minister Iain Lees-Galloway said the Government were determined to improve New Zealand's record in injuries and deaths at work.

"We need to focus on wider risks, including poor health across our workforce, and the growing harm caused by mental health problems, stress, sexual harassment, bullying, delivering on ever-increasing expectations and fatigue.

"It needs to be more than an all-of-government approach. All of us, business, workers, families, colleagues, and mates, need to be all in."

Green Party’s Jan Logie said there was concern about workplace culture in New Zealand and the risks faced by workers, and that there were gaps in current protections.

"Government needs to take ownership and create robust and mandatory health and safety standards, especially in high risk areas of work."

WorkSafe joined ACC in developing the 'Reducing Harm in New Zealand Workplaces Action Plan', which strives to support the Government's target of 25 per cent drop in serious injuries and fatalities in the workplace by 2020. 

The plan would focus on the industries with the highest number of injuries, which are agriculture, construction, forestry, manufacturing and the health sector. 

John Campbell reports from the West Coast where he's had exclusive access to the Pike River recovery team who are close to a decision on whether a safe re-entry will go ahead.

Twenty-nine men died in Pike River Mine in November 2010.

In July, the Pike River Recovery Agency produced three options that were to be further developed. This included, building a tunnel to the Pit Bottom in Stone area, drilling a borehole and re-entering the main drift with no second exit.  

The best and safest of those plans was to go to Pike Recovery Minister Andrew Little.

Last month on TVNZ1's Q+A, John Campbell went to Pike River for the latest update on re-entry. 

Agency CEO Dave Gawn told Campbell he would not take a plan to Mr Little unless he was confident they were "in a space to make a recommendation of a course of action that is both technically feasible and safe to undertake". 

He said there was "still a lot of stuff that we don't know", such as the condition of the drift.

"But we know we can get inside safely."

SHARE ME

More Stories