Scaffolding builder Michael Noche, killed on the task Friday, a migrant from the Philippines and dreamed of bringing his wife and children here, a union leader said.
Mikee Santos, coordinator of the Union Migrant Network, said Night’s death at the site of a retirement village in St Johns, Auckland, was a tragedy.
“The years of the circle of relatives who were planning to come to New Zealand have now been shattered: the devastation. They had planned to start a new life here, but this tragedy means the loss of a father and husband and their dream of coming. “to this country. This deeply affects not only this family circle, but all Filipino families in New Zealand,” Santos said.
Santos said Noche had been in New Zealand for about 4 years and worked at heights at the site of Summerfield St Johns, 188 St Johns Rd.
He killed him around 12:30 p. m. on Friday. It contracted through Marin Construction, a subcontractor of the giant shipyard.
“The entire site has been shut down, pending an investigation. This guy fell from six or seven floors. He is a scaffold. That’s strange. The entire Philippine network in Auckland is talking about it. They are distressed and very upset. It’s hard to perceive. “what happened,” Santos said.
Night of about 40 years. He arrived in New Zealand just over 4 years ago, Santos said, living in Henderson and his wife and children would soon arrive.
“The family’s resident visa is being processed as we speak,” Santos said.
“He was able to qualify for residency in New Zealand and his circle of relatives also came here. Every migrant’s dream is to bring their circle of family here to New Zealand. That was ongoing when the tragedy struck Friday. I can’t believe how the woman and the circle of relatives feel now,” Santos added.
On average, about two other people die a month in the structures industry in New Zealand.
Unemig is a First Union department, which Santos said was heavily involved because of the workload and the prospect of additional deaths.
“We are confident that protection is paramount. But this death rate is not something to be proud of. WorkSafe and key industry players and First Union want to work together. »
The union notified the death Friday and Santos said he struggled to put himself in the family’s shoes.
The huge new retirement village under construction in Auckland – from Friday’s tragic death. Photo / provided
I expected WorkSafe to conduct a thorough investigation.
“The migrant staff who have been here for 4 or five years and Array. . . You are concerned about serious injuries and injuries. The most important question we want to answer is: what about the incoming migrant staff coming here, who have bigger blind spots in protection here?than other people who are already here?
“Four years ago, I worked with the Asia NZ Foundation and WorkSafe and they were there to identify the big blind spots with immigrants and how they have compatibility,” he added.
“Little by little, new immigrants are starting to return and are arriving by the thousands.
“WorkSafe and the Department for Business, Innovation and Employment want to be more proactive in preventing continued loss of life. New Zealand still has the best symbol, the smart remedy criterion of migrant staff. Our general symbol of protection of migrant personnel will have to be maintained,” he said.
The Philippines has provided more than 12 million international workers and about 6,000 more people leave the country every month to work abroad.
Michael Night: His circle of family making plans to immigrate to New Zealand. Photo / provided
“Death would be the worst news a circle of relatives could hear: that his father had died and would return home in a coffin,” Santos said of Noche, who was Catholic.
In the Philippines, millions of others had their parents and uncles fleeing and feared such a tragedy.
“My condolences are conveyed to Michael’s family,” Santos said.
Scott Scoullar, General Manager of Summerset. Photo / Provided
He inspired corporations to take office protection much more seriously, inspired Filipino staff to become on-site protection and fitness personnel to teach their colleagues and procedures for making certain death stops.
Summerset on Friday issued a statement from NZX titled “Death of the St Johns Site” and said: “The deepest mind and condolences of all to Summerset Group Holdings are with the circle of family and friends of a contractor who died at our St Johns structure. “site today. The site has been shut down. The police are investigating. “
Managing Director, Scott Scoullar, said: “We are devastated by something like this that happened at one of our sites and we are providing for our staff and contractors. We are fully cooperating with the police and other authorities, and we will do everything we can to make sure such a thing never happens again. “
Asked for more details, a spokesman said: “We have nothing but a percentage at the moment. “
A WorkSafe spokesperson said today: “WorkSafe has opened an investigation into this incident in Auckland, but comments further while the investigation is ongoing. “
The Herald recently reported the highest rates of deaths in structures.
WorkSafe’s knowledge showed that the structure had the number of fatalities of any industry between February 2021 and January 2022.
Transport, mail and storage suffered the maximum with 17 recorded deaths.
Inquiries about the death were sent to Marin Construction, no reaction has been received yet.