Chris Peace: Victoria University Workplace Health and Safety Lecturer on the Pike River mine tragedy and health and safety injuries

Today marks the 15th anniversary of the Pike River mine disaster that killed 29 men.

Despite reforms following the incident, New Zealand's workplace health and safety record remains poor, with fatality and injury rates among the highest in the developed world.

Workplace injuries and illnesses cost the country an estimated $5 billion each year.

Victoria University workplace health and safety lecturer Dr Chris Peace told Kerre Woodham that putting ACC in place has taken away a lot of stress and angst, but a strong regulatory system needed to be put in place and wasn’t.

He says that the legislation imposes a duty of care on businesses, but the problem is that most people don’t understand what that amounts to.

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