Bradford hits on DR Aargh

Friday 9 October 1998

Rotorua MP and Minister for Enterprise and Commerce, Max Bradford, today launched the Occupational Safety and Health Service's Web Site for young people.

Mr Bradford said that tragically, 36 people under the age of 20 had been killed in work-related accidents in the past seven years. Many more young people have been seriously hurt, some left permanently physically or mentally scarred.

"Today's young people are growing up in the computer age - for many of them surfing 'the net' is as everyday an activity as turning the page of a book was in my day. For OSH to extend its reach to youth, the adoption of this information technology is a logical move."

Central to the site is a sinister creature Dr Aargh - (short for all accidents 'R gonna hurt) - an accident causing villain who with his cunning tricks and lethal concoction turns an everyday work situation into a potential disaster.

Included is a health and safety quiz where young workers can attempt to beat Dr Aargh by answering a series of questions on workplace safety and then receive a certificate from Mr Bradford.

"Young workers - whether they are working part-time while still at school, or a student in a holiday job, or have just landed their first permanent job - will find a wealth of information on the web site," Mr Bradford said.

It outlines employers' responsibilities towards workers; workers' responsibilities under the Act; steps to hazard identification; and outlines possible hazards that may be encountered in the workplace.

There is a special section devoted to farming which accounted for 26 of the deaths of the 36 deaths of those under 20 recorded in the past seven years. The 26 farm deaths were investigated by OSH as 'work-related' because of the blurring of work and farm life on farms.

"I am particularly pleased to be launching the site during WorkSafe Week - a week in which OSH is encouraging New Zealanders - whether they be employees or employers - to think about the precautionary attitudes and behaviours needed to keep safe at work," Mr Bradford said.

"The death of any worker is tragic. When it's a young worker - someone who should be just setting out on the journey of life - it seems doubly so."

Mr Bradford concluded the launch by inviting people to click on www.osh.dol.govt.nz and hit Dr Aargh to access the web site.