Our 2011 election manifesto - Labour Party

This could mean moving to a regulatory framework where legislated standards are required,
but as a minimum, worker participation, involvement of recognised health and safety
representatives and effective enforcement in the workplace will be fundamental to any
change.
Labour will also ensure that any regulatory framework provides for a properly
resourced occupational health and safety inspectorate that has the technical
expertise to enforce the legislative requirements.
High risk industries
Special attention needs to be paid to the high-risk industries, such as construction, farming
and road transport. This may require more than health and safety regulation, and specific
standards need to be considered.
Vehicles are the single largest cause of work-related injury and death in New Zealand and
several accidents in the past year have shed light on poor safety standards in the trucking
industry in particular.
Truck drivers are under increasing pressure, working longer hours without breaks and
scrimping on truck maintenance, all in order to earn a living. Safety is being sacrificed as a
result. The industry needs better standards and better pay to help avoid more tragic
accidents.
Labour will investigate a Safe Rates system in the road transport industry where
remuneration and methods of contracting are considered as part of the overall
safety requirements in the industry.
Labour will investigate whether labour standards are a factor in other high risk
injuries and consider linking these to safety requirements, especially where workers
are contracted.
Safety in the mining industry
The tragedy at Pike River has highlighted the dangers faced by workers in the mining
industry. Labour awaits the findings of the Royal Commission into the Pike River disaster
with interest but does not believe that New Zealand should wait until those findings are
released in 2013 to begin taking action.
A priority for Labour in government will be to legislate for mining health and safety standards,
which will be developed in consultation with employers, unions and workers in the industry.
Labour has identified Queensland‟s mining safety regulations as the model to emulate. In
Queensland, an underground mine is required to have a principal hazard management plan
providing for at least the following: emergency response, gas management, methane
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