Mine culture still high risk

The Department of Labour’s failure to appoint a senior inspector to the new High Hazards Unit is a sign that underground mine safety is still plagued by a culture of risk, West Coast Tasman MP Damien O’Connor, says.

“I understand the Department has been unable to attract a suitable candidate and that the unit remains inoperative.

“The fact that the job description didn’t require applicants to have experience of underground coal mining goes some way to explaining the inability to attract the necessary skills. The fact they are offering peanuts at a time when skilled staff are paid very well is undoubtedly another factor,” Damien O’Connor said.

“John Key needs to tell the Department to come down off its pedestal and show some respect to those working in the industry. It must pay decent money to people who can get out and implement safety in the mines, rather than rewarding the paper pushers in Wellington who have been unsuccessful in protecting mine workers.

“The new High Hazards Unit is a political reaction to a major systems failure, as exposed through the Pike River Royal Commission hearings. If we need the unit and it is to be effective in improving mine safety it needs to be operating now, not later.

“While we must give the Commission an opportunity to reach comprehensive conclusions, in the meantime miners continue to facing risks daily without guaranteed oversight or controls.

“Although our focus at the Pike River Mine must be to retrieve the bodies of the 29 miners as soon as possible, we cannot stand aside and allow uncertain safety systems to continue in our underground mines either,” Damien O’Connor said.