Another forestry worker has been killed at work today. The Council of Trade Unions sends our deepest sympathies to the whanau and colleagues of the man who was working on a Pan Pac forestry block inland from Tutira, north of Napier.
This is the third forestry worker (or fourth including a construction worker who was killed on a forestry block) to be killed in forestry this year. CTU President Richard Wagstaff is deeply concerned. “Are we heading for another 2013? 10 men were killed at work in forestry in 2013, our most shameful year on record.
“Are we seeing a correlation between the price of logs going up and more forestry workers being killed? This is totally unacceptable. Are forestry companies putting additional pressure on those working to get the logs cut in order to maximise profit? WorkSafe must thoroughly investigate what is happening.
“WorkSafe must urgently get their inspectors on the ground in the forests, they must be taking every step possible to make sure forestry workers are safe at work,” Wagstaff said.