New health and safety inspector appointed to the West Coast

09 April 2008

The Department of Labour today announced the appointment of Kevin Poynter as a Health and Safety Inspector based on the West Coast.

The Department was delighted to welcome Kevin who would be a significant addition to the health and safety team, Ms Radford said. The appointment, which follows an increase in government funding for occupational health issues, would further strengthen the Department’s ability to contribute to improving workplace health.

A former mining industry manager and consultant who began his career as a mine worker, Mr Poynter will have a key focus on health and safety in mines and quarries, said Department of Labour Service Manager Margaret Radford.

The appointment of Mr Poynter was timely given the recent release of a consultation document seeking submissions on ways to improve safety in underground mining, Ms Radford said.

 “Kevin has considerable credibility within the industry and will be an enormous asset to the department in working with the sector to improve health and safety.”

Mr Poynter is the former New Zealand operations manager for coal company Eastern Coal Supplies NZ ltd and was previously South Island Planning manager for State-owned coal company Solid Energy. He is a justice of the peace, chairman of child and family support group Homebuilders West Coast Trust and a Chair of the management committee for the O’Conor Home Trust.

ENDS