New Workplace H & S System Launch

On 1 July a new workplace health and safety system was launched by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Health and Safety group in readiness for the new Crown agency WorkSafe New Zealand, which takes over the reins in December this year.

The new system is charged with reducing serious harm and fatalities by at least 10 percent by 2016, and 25 percent by 2020.

The regulator will be more visible, more proactive, and will take a firmer stance. Duty-holders, including businesses, employers and employees will be expected to share meaningfully in responsibility for health and safety.  Duty-holders will be expected to play their part, and to review certain health and safety occurrences themselves. These ‘duty-holder reviews’ are an examination of what went wrong and why, and what the duty-holder has decided to do to prevent a recurrence. Duty-holder reviews will be assessed by investigations inspectors for completeness.

Legislation enacting the new agency, WorkSafe New Zealand, is included in the Health and Safety (Pike River Implementation) Bill 2013, which is being progressed through Parliament.

If you would like assistance to review your Health and Safety policy and procedures please do not hesitate to contact us enquiry@chapmaner.co.nz