NZ's deadliest industry is agriculture, WorkSafe data shows

Tuesday, 2 January 2018

Agriculture remains New Zealand's most dangerous industry to work in, according to WorkSafe New Zealand. 

As of November 2017, nine people lost their lives working in the industry last year – with three of those people dying as a result of quad bike accidents. 

With a total of 124 deaths in the past six years, the sector is New Zealand's deadliest. 

The construction industry had the second highest number of fatalities last year, with eight people losing their life while at work in 2017. Over the past six years, 35 people have died while working in the sector. 

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The overall number of people dying at their workplace was at a five-year low in 2017. As of November, 26 people died at their workplace last year – down from 31 in 2016. 

The cause of last year's fatalities included someone being struck by a bucket falling from stationary digger, someone else was caught between a swing lift and a container, and another person was crushed by a house or hut which fell off its jacks.

WorkSafe New Zealand chief executive Nicole Rosie said she was hopeful workplace fatalities would decrease again in 2018. 

'We're ahead of the harm-reduction target set by the previous government in two of the three measures, and I'm cautiously optimistic that New Zealand's overall health and safety performance is improving,' she said. 

Despite the improvement, Rosie said there were still areas of concern which needed to be worked on. 

'In the last year for example we have seen deaths in the transportation, logistics and warehousing area including on roadwork-related deaths increase from 12 to 26 deaths.

'We also know that health-related exposures from things like asbestosis, agriculture chemical exposure and sun continue to kill between 600-900 people a year.' 

In August last year, Coroner Brigitte Windle called on tougher restrictions around quad bike usage, saying it was 'imperative' something was done. 

Her concerns were echoed by Rosie.  

'Quad bikes are still responsible for around 25 per cent of fatalities in the agricultural sector, but we're seeing very positive leadership and interactions across the key agriculture sector groups. 

'Ultimately, we need to all be working together to identify solutions so more farmers and other users of quad bikes come home health and safe.'

Overall, 233 people were killed in the past six years at their workplaces.