After an accident or fatality, Inspector Walker says he regularly hears two numbers being cited: 10 and 30.
“It’s tragic, but almost without fail I hear people say, ‘It was only going to take 10 minutes’ and ‘I’ve been doing this for 30 years’,” he says.
“Taking shortcuts at work and rushing to get jobs done is unfortunately normal for many New Zealanders. Also, many people have been working for decades without ever having had any health and safety issues. This can get people into trouble, or worse.
“People think health and safety is just common sense and that it’s only other people who have unsafe habits and work environments. If they spent just a day in my job, they’d know that no matter how long you’ve been working, everyone is vulnerable – especially if they’re not proactive or are lackadaisical about health and safety.”
“A massive problem is that people often think of health and safety in terms of being compliant and legal. What they should be asking themselves is: ‘How do I keep safe?’ The effects of poor health and safety systems can have devastating consequences on employers, friends and families.”
“I really feel it’s my duty to try and make people safer. I’d love to see people slow down at work and properly assess risk before starting dangerous tasks.”