wanting to work hard and earn good money. I guess you could say I was snobby when I first started. I had this idea that everyone was going to be old and boring, but it's totally the opposite. Being stuck on a boat together for four to six weeks or longer you become a family." With travel in her plans it was the money that attracted the
Nelson-based 25-year-old, who is now in the market to buy her third house. "There's no other career that allows you to have six weeks off at
a time to go travelling and do what you want. It's a good way to save as well. There's nothing to buy out at sea and everything is provided for you." Factory hands can earn up to $90,000 and with three years in the role under her belt Stephanie has no regrets. www.talleys.co.nz For more information the following websites detail workplace fatalities and accidents: Accident Compensation Corporation – www.acc.co.nz Civil Aviation Authority – www.caa.govt.nz Maritime New Zealand – www.maritimenz.govt.nz Injury Information Manager – www.stats.govt.nz/injury
Other interesting facts from the Department of Labour:
• occupational disease is estimated to lead to 700-1,000 fatalities and 17,000-20,000 new cases a year – asthma, skin diseases and asbestos-related cancer are big contributors.
• annually, the work toll costs billions in suffering and premature death, but the majority of this cost is absorbed by society.
• aCC pays out about half a billion dollars a year for work- related claims.
• Lost work days on aCC weekly compensation equate to about one day per worker per year.
• about 90% of medium and large businesses have health and safety systems, but many small businesses have difficulty setting these up.
• about 9,600 workplace incidents are notified to the Department of Labour each year – about 1,200 result in compliance or enforcement action.
• annually, there are about 750,000 visits to aCC, Department of Labour websites and health and safety information services, and about 20,000 people make enquiries through the Department of Labour contact centre.
• about 5,000 businesses are involved in aCC incentive programmes.
