Deaths Spark Nation-Wide Crackdown on Unsafe Construction Sites

Thursday 22 January 1998

Unsafe construction sites will be targeted by the Occupational Safety and Health Service of the Department of Labour (OSH) from today in an unprecedented exercise in the wake of four construction workplace deaths in the last two weeks.

Since January 1, a total of nine New Zealanders have lost their lives while at work.

"Construction work ranks alongside forestry and farming as one of the most dangerous occupations in the country," OSH spokesperson Lisa-Marie Richan said today.

"From July 1995 until today, 53 construction workers lost their lives in the workplace." Ms Richan said. "21 of those deaths resulted from falls from heights."

"It is a tragic fact that those working in construction are three times more likely to die on the job than the average New Zealand worker."