Christchurch workplace fatality in Special Investigators on TV ONE

01 October, 2007

A Christchurch workplace fatality and the human toll of such deaths feature in tonight’s programme of Special Investigators on TV ONE.

Special Investigators follows workplace health and safety inspectors for the Department of Labour as they investigate work-related injuries and fatalities.

Tonight’s episode follows Christchurch inspector Bruce McLaren as he looks into the death of  labourer Clayton Hardaker, crushed at Lyttleton Port by a 4.5 tonne concrete panel when a simple dismantling job went horribly wrong. Later Bruce investigates a 5.5 metre fall from a Christchurch construction site roof by a man on his first day on the job. Luckily the man, though injured, survives.

Bruce McLaren takes cases such as the death of Clayton Hardaker to heart.

“Too many times I sit on a guy’s couch, drinking tepid tea out of his mug, trying to give the grieving family some reason why it happened.”

Maarten Quivooy, Department of Labour manager for Workplace Services, says Health and Safety inspectors are dedicated people, dealing time and again with what are all too often avoidable tragedies which impact on families, friends, workplaces and communities.

“Health and safety procedures are sometimes maligned.  The first series of Special Investigators was well received and this is another opportunity to communicate our role and through real stories, show what can happen in workplaces when good practices are not followed.

 “Good health and safety procedures are not just important for workers. Fewer incidents mean lower costs and higher productivity for our business community.”

The Department of Labour is currently promoting the need for safe workplaces through advertisements with the message – Health and Safety - It’s No Joke. Series two continues on TV ONE at 9.35pm tonight. Special Investigators is produced by Greenstone Pictures and also features the work of Maritime New Zealand and Civil Aviation inspectors.

ENDS.

To the journalist: Please note that Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) should now be referred to as the Department of Labour.