News (Media Awareness Project) - New Zealand: Campaign To Cut Forestry Workers' Cannabis Use |
| Title: | New Zealand: Campaign To Cut Forestry Workers' Cannabis Use |
| Published On: | 2000-08-07 |
| Source: | Dominion, The (New Zealand) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-09-03 13:32:02 |
CAMPAIGN TO CUT FORESTRY WORKERS' CANNABIS USE
Cannabis use among forestry gang workers is so rife that Deputy Prime Minister Jim Anderton has enlisted the support of forestry companies to combat it.
Mr Anderton, the Economic Development Minister, said a regional taskforce pilot programme had been established, with the support of forestry industry employers, to get many at-risk youths back into the workforce and to break their cannabis habit.
"In a way it's come as a surprise to me as Minister of Economic Development to have to worry about cannabis use. I never thought (in this portfolio) I'd have to think about it."
One forestry worker said the problem of workers using the drug was rife throughout silviculture gangs that plant and prune trees in the forestry regions of Northland, Bay of Plenty and the east coast. "They're growing up with the culture of smoking before they go to work, on their breaks, and doing the work while stoned."
Mr Anderton said he did not know of one employer who was not concerned about the problem, its potential effect on investment in the industry, and the health and safety of workers smoking cannabis on the job.
Peter Clark, chief executive of forester P F Olsen and Co, said one proposal put to the ministry aimed at training young workers for the industry on the east coast also included provision for a drug and education programme.
"Drug and alcohol abuse is still identified as one of the main reasons we can't get the (forestry industry) accident rate down," Mr Clark said.
Mr Anderton quoted statistics from a Labour Department Forestry Bulletin survey, which showed 27 per cent of workers used cannabis at work within the 12-month period before the survey early last year.
A Canterbury University dissertation by forestry faculty student Marcus Musson said that as cannabis use increased, so did the accident rate of workers, who were three times more likely to hurt themselves on the job than those who did not ue the drug. Mr Anderton said workers were being seriously injured through use of the drug.
Cannabis use among forestry gang workers is so rife that Deputy Prime Minister Jim Anderton has enlisted the support of forestry companies to combat it.
Mr Anderton, the Economic Development Minister, said a regional taskforce pilot programme had been established, with the support of forestry industry employers, to get many at-risk youths back into the workforce and to break their cannabis habit.
"In a way it's come as a surprise to me as Minister of Economic Development to have to worry about cannabis use. I never thought (in this portfolio) I'd have to think about it."
One forestry worker said the problem of workers using the drug was rife throughout silviculture gangs that plant and prune trees in the forestry regions of Northland, Bay of Plenty and the east coast. "They're growing up with the culture of smoking before they go to work, on their breaks, and doing the work while stoned."
Mr Anderton said he did not know of one employer who was not concerned about the problem, its potential effect on investment in the industry, and the health and safety of workers smoking cannabis on the job.
Peter Clark, chief executive of forester P F Olsen and Co, said one proposal put to the ministry aimed at training young workers for the industry on the east coast also included provision for a drug and education programme.
"Drug and alcohol abuse is still identified as one of the main reasons we can't get the (forestry industry) accident rate down," Mr Clark said.
Mr Anderton quoted statistics from a Labour Department Forestry Bulletin survey, which showed 27 per cent of workers used cannabis at work within the 12-month period before the survey early last year.
A Canterbury University dissertation by forestry faculty student Marcus Musson said that as cannabis use increased, so did the accident rate of workers, who were three times more likely to hurt themselves on the job than those who did not ue the drug. Mr Anderton said workers were being seriously injured through use of the drug.
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