Every week this year on average, one or more New Zealand workers will likely be killed in a workplace accident. Wayne Scott, CEO of MinEx, the extractive sector’s health and safety organisation, is holding workshops next month in Nelson, Blenheim and Greymouth to help reduce the toll.

OPINION: America’s latest gun tragedy where a six-year-old shot his teacher will further confirm for many Kiwis the insane nature of that nation’s tolerance for firearms.

Yet our acceptance of workplace injuries and harm has its comparisons with the preparedness of American society to have more guns than people and so live with gun violence.

I worked in Australia for 30 years including in health and safety roles; if someone dies in a workplace there, it’s a big deal; in New Zealand we tend to think – ‘sh*t happens’ – and move on.