26.10.2012

Major Workplace Health and Safety review and consultation

New Zealand has one of the highest workplace death rates in the OECD.  For the first time in twenty years, a significant review of New Zealand’s entire workplace health and safety system is underway.  An independent, specialist Taskforce has been set up to review the whole system of education, regulation, and enforcement, in an effort to address New Zealand’s comparatively poor health and safety record.  The rate of workplace fatalities and injuries in NZ is higher than that of the United Kingdom, Norway, Canada and Australia.  The Taskforce is to establish how to address this.

To this end, and with the aim of meeting the Government’s target of a 25% reduction in number of deaths and injuries by 2020, the Taskforce is considering how to improve New Zealand’s health and safety system.  The Taskforce has now issued a consultation document, which sets out the key issues in health and safety management, and possible solutions.   In particular, the Taskforce is seeking feedback on the following issues:

  • Who gets hurt, killed or suffers from ill-health or disease as a result of work?
  • Regulatory framework
  • Regulators’ roles and responsibilities
  • New Zealand’s changing workforce and work arrangements
  • Worker participation and engagement
  • Leadership and governance
  • Capacity and capability of the workplace health and safety system
  • Incentives
  • Influencing health and safety outcomes beyond one’s own workplace
  • Major hazards
  • Health and hazardous substances
  • Small to medium-sized enterprises
  • Measurement and data
  • Our national culture and societal expectations

The Taskforce has invited submissions from all interested parties – individuals, unions, and businesses.  It wants to make sure its recommendations to the Government (due in April next year) are workable, and encourages submitters to share their experiences and ideas.  The consultation document, and information about how to make a submission, is at
www.hstaskforce.govt.nz .  Submissions close 16 November 2012.

If you have any questions regarding health and safety, or would like help on making a submission, email us on employmentnews@heskethhenry.co.nz or call us on (09) 375 8699.

Kerry
Media contact - Kerry Browne
Please contact Kerry with any media enquiries and with any questions related to marketing or sponsorships on +64 9 375 8747 or via email.

Related Articles / Insights & Opinion

Mediation wide BW
Employment Law’s Dispute Resolution Process – Employment Relations Authority and Employment Court
In our last article, we introduced the dispute resolution process in the employment jurisdiction by discussing mediation – specifically, what mediation is and what to expect. This article discusses ...
17.04.2025 Posted in Employment
You’ve Been Served: Navigating the Use of Statutory Demands
An Introduction to Statutory Demands: A statutory demand is a legal document that is issued by a creditor (Creditor) to a debtor company (Debtor) demanding payment of a debt that is due and owing.  T...
15.04.2025 Posted in Insolvency and Restructuring
iStock  Succession Plan medium
Passing the Torch: Priming your Family Business for a Succession
As the first in a series of articles looking at the generational wealth transition and its impacts on business succession in New Zealand, Ben Hickson (partner, Corporate & Commercial) and John Kir...
07.04.2025 Posted in Corporate & Commercial & Private Wealth
Deciding to Wind Up? Observations on winding-up a trust from a recent High Court case
A trust can be a hassle and expensive to maintain.  So, it is not unusual for clients to reflect on whether a trust should be maintained. When settlors, Bert and Diana Queenin, decided to wind up the...
24.03.2025 Posted in Private Wealth
Mediation wide BW
Employment Law’s Dispute Resolution Process – Mediation
Navigating the dispute resolution process in the employment jurisdiction can be tricky. This article aims to spell out the key considerations for those involved in or contemplating mediation, which is...
24.03.2025 Posted in Employment
empty wallet finance concept
Amendment to the Crimes Act 1961: Intentionally not paying employees their wages now deemed theft
An amendment to the Crimes Act 1961 (Crimes Act) – the Crimes (Theft by Employer) Amendment Bill has been passed by Parliament and received Royal assent. It is now an enforceable provision of th...
14.03.2025 Posted in Employment
Time’s Up: Late Redelivery and the Assessment of Damages in Hapag Lloyd AG v Skyros Maritime Corporation and Hapag Lloyd AG v Agios Minas Shipping Company
The English Commercial Court gave an instructive judgment on the assessment of damages in Hapag Lloyd AG v Skyros Maritime Corporation and Hapag Lloyd AG v Agios Minas Shipping Company; an appeal brou...
11.03.2025 Posted in Trade and Transport
SEND AN ENQUIRY
Send us an enquiry

For expert legal advice, please complete the form below or call us on (09) 375 8700.