Work safety on breakfast menu

There was more than bacon and eggs on the mind when a room full of loggers, truckies and workplace safety advocates met up for breakfast.

The second annual Taranaki Safe Start breakfast held at the Stratford Rugby Club yesterday attracted around 200 company owners, managers and staff from the logging industry and related businesses to discuss the issue of on the job safety.

Joining the industry representatives for the breakfast were financiers, fuel suppliers and Port Taranaki staff, as well as members of the police.

NZ Forestry Taranaki regional manager Cam Eyre said the meeting was important to help get ‘‘everyone working on the same level’’ in regards to workplace safety.

‘‘Last year there were seven fatalities in the forestry industry which is seven deaths too many, and seven families who do not have a father,’’ he said.

‘‘The safety levels are improving but they can still be better.

‘‘The breakfast helped to make sure everyone’s heads were switched on and engaged in work place safety after the Christmas New Year break.’’

Eyre said the breakfast was well attended by the majority of the industry contractors working in Taranaki.

‘‘All the major companies were keen to participate in the name of improving safety at work,’’ he explained.

‘‘Our aim is to have as many employees attend.’’

Record numbers of trees are currently being harvested and shipped out of Port Taranaki as mature plantations are felled, the meeting was told.

Guest speaker Mike King addressed those assembled on the challenges around dealing with workers’ mental health.

Speakers from the police emphasised the importance of safe secure loads as truck numbers on the road increased.

- Mike Watson