Media Releases
Beekeeper's Death Highlights Need for Farm Safety
Friday 20 June 1997
The Department of Labour’s Occupational Safety and Health Service is appalled at the carnage on New Zealand’s farms as high numbers of accidents, many fatal, continue to occur within the agricultural sector.
In the wake of the Taumaranui Coroner’s findings into the death of Ken Richards, a beekeeper who died on the King Country farm of Keith and Margaret Berryman, OSH have issued a plea to farmers to heed obligations under the Health and Safety in Employment Act to identify and manage their own hazards.
Under the Act, the onus is on the employer first and foremost to ensure that all practicable steps are taken regarding the health and safety of employees and people affected by the work of other people.
"It must be remembered that a man is dead and a family grieves," said OSH spokesperson Geoff Wilson. "We are greatly concerned that work accidents kill farm workers at seven times the national average and that farming now exceeds both the forestry and construction industries as the most fatal occupation."
"From June 1996 to mid-January 1997, OSH investigated farming accidents that claimed eight lives. That figure has increased by 75 per cent in the last five months," said Mr. Wilson.
The industry, Federated Farmers and ACC are presently working with OSH on initiatives to remedy this situation.
"A fully skilled and trained agricultural sector is essential to reducing unsafe, unhealthy, and potentially fatal work practices," Mr. Wilson said. "The partnership which has been formed between the industry and the government agencies is preparing options to ensure the industry deals with the hazards it generates."
"The bottom line is that bad safety and health practices end up hurting farmers, their workers and their families in a tragic, yet often avoidable manner."
