A Tragedy in the Workplace: The Cost of Neglected Safety Standards

In a Timaru lumberyard, a 23-year-old timber worker named Ethyn McTier was crushed to death by an unguarded conveyor belt in July. His story is one of many that have recently come to light, highlighting the devastating consequences of inadequate machine safety measures in New Zealand's workplaces.

This is not an isolated incident. A 37-year-old man was asphyxiated after falling onto a fast-moving conveyor belt that lacked a guard. Just days later, Graham McKean of the Maritime Union was counseling the man's co-workers, who described the scene as 'horrific' and 'chilling.'

Expert Insights
Dr. Joe Bain, an engineer who provides expert evidence in court and inquests, has witnessed these tragedies time and again. He notes that the solutions to prevent such accidents are well known, but often not implemented.

'Time after time, we wind up writing reports that highlight that somebody's been seriously injured, if not killed, by a known problem, where there is an existing solution that simply hasn't been applied,' Bain said.

A Call for Change
In response to these tragedies, the New Zealand government is consulting with factories to simplify regulations around machine safety. Workplace Safety Minister Brooke van Velden has launched a review of the Health and Safety in Employment 1995 Regulations, which are described as outdated and overly prescriptive.

'The review will consult on simplifying these out-of-date rules and guidance,' van Velden said. However, critics argue that the current consultation is not addressing the core issues, such as the lack of clear and accessible safety standards for businesses.

The Missing Piece
Dr. Bain has long advocated for the adoption of European safety standards known as Type Cs, which provide clear, picture-based guidance on how to safely operate machinery. Despite his efforts to promote these standards, they have not been fully integrated into the government's reform agenda.

'I've told her. Anybody who knows me is sick of hearing me talk about Type C standards,' Bain said. 'Pretty much, they nod their heads and go, 'Yeah, that makes sense.' Whether it's come through as clearly from other contributors to the roadshows, I don't know.'

Industry Concerns
Industry representatives and safety consultants have expressed concerns that the current approach may be undermining established safety principles. Mike Cosman, a veteran of previous government workplace safety reviews, warned that the government's messaging on safety reforms could be leading to a lowering of standards.

'The approach that we take is already risk based. It's all based on the concept of doing what's reasonably practicable in the circumstances,' Cosman said. 'And anything that undermines that fundamental approach, which has been around now for 50 years, I think is dangerous.'

The Way Forward
While the government is making efforts to reform safety regulations, many experts believe that more needs to be done to provide clear and actionable guidance to businesses. Dr. Bain's call for the immediate adoption of Type C standards remains unheeded, but he remains hopeful that change is on the horizon.

'Import Type Cs tomorrow and give them to businesses for free,' Bain urged. 'That's the message I have for the government.'

As the consultation continues, the question remains: will these reforms be enough to prevent future tragedies, or will New Zealand continue to see workers crushed, maimed, and killed by machines that should have been made safe long ago?