Disaster prompts scrutiny on safety
Adventure activity regulations may be tightened if a review prompted by the Whakaari White Island disaster finds any weaknesses.
The review by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment is taking a close look at commercial adventure activities involving natural hazards, safety auditing, and the role of experts in monitoring and reporting any potential problems.
Tourism Industry Aotearoa chief executive Chris Roberts agreed with the emphasis on natural hazards, and said there was no need for another full-scale inquiry into the adventure sector.
But questions remained over whether it was appropriate for WorkSafe, which administers the adventure activity register, to effectively investigate its own actions in relation to trips to the active volcano.
It was prosecuting government agencies GNS Science and National Emergency Management Agency (Civil Defence) despite arguably having greater involvement in determining safe access to Whakaari, Roberts said.
On Monday, WorkSafe announced it had charged 13 parties with failing to meet their obligations under the Health and Safety at Work Act following a lengthy investigation into events leading up to the eruption that left 22 dead.
WorkSafe chief executive Phil Parkes said the agency was reflecting on its practice and making changes to the way that it implemented the adventure activities regime.
WorkSafe’s decision to prosecute the owners of Whakaari White Island is also a wakeup call for the Department of Conservation which has specific health and safety responsibilities as a landowner charging for commercial activities on its estate.
DOC is setting up a new fivemember national visitor safety team to improve risk assessments, and help with investigations into incidents and near-misses.