ACCIDENTS AT WORK

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31007, 12 March 1966, Page 23

ACCIDENTS AT WORK

Increase With Employment It seems almost certain that the expanding labour force in New Zealand has multiplied the likelihood of reportable work accidents, according to the February issue of the “Labour and Employment Gazette,” published by the Department of Labour. Research by the department “has shown that whenever employment expands at a fast rate—whether over industry as a whole or in a particular industry—work accidents tend to increase at an even faster rate.” says the gazette. “There is no doubt that the rate of employment expansion in 1964 was exceptionally high—almost half as much again than usual, and twice as high in some industry groups. “This tendency for the accident increase to outrun employment increase is due, of course, to the ‘dilution’ of experience in the labour force by the addition of new workers more susceptible to accident.” The main sources of the rapid expansion in employment in 1964 may be significant, says the gazette. “There was a particularly large influx of young workers, while married women returned to the work force in larger numbers than usual. “As might be expected, the most significant accident rises have occurred in sectors of industry where employment has been expanding rapidly. Many of these are ‘high-haz-ard’ industries, such as building and construction and some of the manufacturing groups.”