Every year on April 28, the International Labour Organisation marks World Day for Safety and Health at Work which is intended to be a global moment to pause, reflect, and ask ourselves some important questions: are we doing enough to protect our workforce? Are we getting the right advice? Are we building safety systems that actually make work safer – or are we just overcomplicating things?
Last week, Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety, Brooke van Velden, unveiled the first stage of the government’s plan to reform New Zealand’s Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA). The changes aim to “cut red tape” and provide clarity for businesses…but as always, the devil is in the detail.
While simplifying compliance sounds a good thing in theory, those of us working at the coalface of health and safety know there’s a fine line between streamlining and sidelining. So, what exactly is changing and what might it mean for businesses and workers alike?
When it comes to workplace safety, data is invaluable. Metrics such as incident rates, near-miss reports, and compliance checklists can provide essential insights into safety performance. However, relying solely on these numbers can lead to a one-dimensional view of safety. This is where contextual data comes in to play.
In the world of workplace health and safety, we often rely on metrics and data to assess how well we’re doing. Decreasing injury rates, zero-incident milestones, and completed compliance checklists are celebrated as evidence of a “safe” workplace but do these metrics truly reflect safety? Or are they giving us an illusion of safety that…
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As the Christmas holiday season wraps up and we return to back to work, January offers a unique opportunity to reflect, reset, and refocus on workplace safety. The start of a new year is not just about setting our own personal resolutions—it’s also the perfect time for businesses to take a fresh look at their…
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As the year winds down, it’s the perfect time to reflect, reset, and prepare for the year ahead. For businesses, this means conducting crucial end-of-year safety checks to ensure the workplace is ready for a fresh start next year. From ensuring compliance to safeguarding your team over the holiday break, these checks are a vital…
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The Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) regulations in New Zealand are designed to ensure the safe use, storage, and transportation of hazardous substances.
Without preparation, emergencies can have severe consequences, however, a well-designed emergency plan allows businesses to protect their employees and respond swiftly when the unexpected occurs.
No matter how sophisticated your safety systems are, human slip ups remains one of the leading causes of workplace accidents. While systems and processes are essential for maintaining a safe environment, people are at the core of every workplace, and human error is inevitable.
A proactive safety culture is one where potential hazards are identified and addressed before they lead to serious incidents. It shifts the focus from reacting to accidents after they happen to anticipating and preventing them altogether.
