Too many injured on job

GISBORNE workers are suffering on-the-job injuries at a rate equivalent to 50 people a week, at a cost of close to $4 million a year, new data shows.

Statistics supplied to The Gisborne Herald by Statistics New Zealand show that the Accident and Compensation Corporation (ACC) has accepted a total of 2600 claims for workplace-related injuries in 2015.

That equates to an average of 50 accidents every week.

After his latest visit to Gisborne clients, independent health and safety adviser Gordon Anderson says too few of the region’s employers are putting enough consideration into the cost of accidents, and the resulting mental, emotional, physical and financial impact on their business, the families affected and the Gisborne community.

“Business owners need to stop treating health and safety like a boil on the backside of their business, and to take it seriously just like taxation, human resources and ACC — all are compliance issues and now have harsh penalties.

“Business owners need to get educated. It is now clearly enshrined in law that they are responsible and could pay the financial penalty for sticking their head in the sand on this subject.

“Gisborne lawyers and accountants should harden up with their clients, and make sure they have health and safety plans and systems in place — and that they are managed and reviewed on a regular basis.’”

For workplace injuries to reduce, it also needed Worksafe NZ’s inspectors “to get harder” on businesses that were non-compliant with regulations, he said.

“From what I found in Gisborne during my two last visits, I am starting to wonder what WSNZ have been doing for the past 24 years.”

ACC’s data, which is still provisional, shows that to date those claims have amassed a cost of $3.86 million.

That includes 340 entitlement claims, which includes claims that have passed the medical fee-only stage and could require compensation and support to help return claimants to independence.

Nationally, ACC accepted a total of $318m-worth of claims for work-related injuries.