NZ researches increased summer fatalities

A marked increase in the number of workplace fatalities in New Zealand's summer months is to become the focus of a new study.

New Zealand's Department of Labour has contracted Sydney-based research company, Human Engineering to analyse data and information gained from interviews with key sector groups to help identify seasonal work trends and their relationship to summer fatalities.

The past five years have seen the department's health and safety service investigate, on average, six or seven deaths every December and January. The most recent summer period saw 10 fatalities in a horror three-week period.

This compares to a yearly average of five deaths a month, with a drop to four fatalities in the winter months. The average number of workplace deaths in mid-winter is two.

The number of serious harm notifications the department receives also appears to be consistently higher during the months of December to March.

The reason for this higher seasonal incidence is not entirely clear, according to acting chief advisor safe and healthy workplaces, Bob Hill.

"The deaths occur in a range of industries, although farming activity and industrial and commercial work contribute significantly to the summertime fatalities," he said.

The most common features were crushing injuries associated with either a vehicle or other item of mobile plant, but these also occurred at other times of the year, Hill said.

The research will use the department's workplace fatality records, ACC data and information from industry and union groups. "The aim of the research is to not just identify causative factors, but to look at possible initiatives to reduce the summer toll," Hill said.

The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2006.

23/10/06