Unions dismayed at second quarry death within a month

Photo / John Borren

Unions have expressed dismay at the death of a second quarry worker in less than a month.

A 24-year-old man died yesterday after being trapped under a 45-tonne rock cutter at a Tauranga quarry.

Jeff Sissons, Council of Trade Unions general counsel, said the deaths were tragic.

"Our hearts go out to the families and co-workers of Scott Baldwin, who was killed on 19 March in South Timaru, and the yet-unnamed worker, who died yesterday in Tauranga."

Mr Baldwin, 43, was killed in an incident at Gordons Valley Lime Company.

Mr Sissons said health and safety laws for mining were strengthened in 2013 in response to the Royal Commission into the Pike River Mine tragedy.

"But after lobbying from industry and assurances that quarries were safer than mines, the Government excluded quarries from the protections of the new law."

Mr Sissons said instead of legislating, the government opted to work with the industry to develop specific guidelines, with a longer-term view to developing regulations.

"These guidelines are still in draft and the regulations nowhere on the horizon."

Mr Sissons said the Health and Safety Reform Bill currently before select committee could be amended to include quarries in the mining protections.

"Specific regulations for quarries should be urgently made. These would be big steps towards stopping further deaths or injuries."

Emergency services were called to Oropi Quarries Ltd in McPhail Rd about 12.15pm yesterday.

Police said the Fire Service righted the rock cutter to retrieve the man's body using specialist equipment.

Police serious crash unit and WorkSafe New Zealand were on site investigating the cause of the accident.

WorkSafe spokesman Mark Scott said health and safety inspectors were on the scene yesterday.

"We do not comment on the circumstances [of an incident], as they form part of our investigation. At this early stage it is impossible to say how long the quarry may remain closed," he said.