N.Z.’s accident bill ‘vicious’

Press, 8 July 1976, Page 3

N.Z.’s accident bill ‘vicious’

Accidents caused a vicious erosion of business and the national economy, as well as human suffering and family breakdowns, said the Minister of Labour (Mr Gordon) yesterday. He was opening the Accident Compensation Commission’s second national safety forum in the Christchurch Town Hall. “We must therefore, be more positive and more aggressive in dealing with acciIdent prevention,” said Mr Gordon. “Income paid to the Acciident Compensation Commission in the last financial year Ito provide for all the con-

• sequences of personal injury [from accidents was sB7m. “If you look at the pulp and paper industry which earned some $80m; we spent more than that internally on accidents.” Mr Gordon said that he had reservations about, [forums and seminars. “They] [are fine if they promote] [awareness, but a national! ! safety forum such as this] has to be more than just] [talk: it has to be action oriented,” he said. Prevention of industrial accidents was a matter of ■ communication between man- ■ agement and unions—com-

munication that would lead to understanding. In the past there had been plenty of excuses not to talk. The Accident Compensation Commission, already involved in compensation, [would now look to rehabiliItation and research into [accident prevention. I The Government had two I functions, the Minister said. • One was to set the laws and the other was to examine ways of improving the system. “And I think there is a need for some rationalisation of rhe safety laws. There is also a need for examination

of the Government authorities involved in safety, in regula-j tions, and in the policing of; those regulations.” He favoured a separate! safety division wherever! possible—“even in my own; Labour Department, with a direct channel to me as! Minister.” But it was impossible for; any agency to force safety on people. Safety promotion was 98 per cent self-help, and the iidea had to be conveyed to 'management, to employees.’ to the self-employed, to the man in the street, to the car driver, and to the housewife, ; Mr Gordon said.