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Articles

09 Nov

A job assessment prior to the start of a task or contract is not a new thing, but it's increasingly important. Take 5 steps back and 5 minutes to review and consider the way the work is to be done, as well as the actual or potential hazards and risks associated...
13:59 / Articles
15 Oct

I have a flat foot - but why is this important? This is a common condition for many New Zealanders, with a simple solution (one that has a direct link to the workplace). Why bring this topic up? I was talking to my granddaughter, who along with her partner, is a sharemilker. She...
12:58 / Articles
29 Sep

The below headline caught my attention recently, and after reading the court notes, I can’t understand why this can still happen in this day and age (29 years since health and safety laws were introduced into New Zealand), or are there other factors involved that have not been made known? Don’t...
19:41 / Articles
13 Aug

For many small businesses, now is an uncertain time.  However, with the government's strategies for job creation, for many businesses, this is a positive time and will give them opportunity to help people gain employment, and develop new skills. Earlier this week (August 2020), we attended a Govt work/job creation and...
09:46 / Articles
20 Jul

Zoonosis is a disease which can be transmitted to humans from animals. Any case of zoonosis that is attributed to a workplace is deemed to be a serious infection, and thus is a notifiable event that must be notified to WorkSafe. Serious infections are defined as: Any serious infection (including occupational (zoonosis)...
11:52 / Articles
20 Jul

An issue with the process of hazard and risk management is that it is a bit like crystal ball gazing - identifying what is real (actual) and what is possible (potential).  This can be a challenge. The article below highlights an interesting conundrum of being able to foresee an event, and...
11:26 / Articles
08 Jul

The importance of the pre-work involvement of employees when it comes to the planning and communication of a task, is certainly emphasized by the recent prosecution of an Auckland scaffolding company when an employee received an electrocution from overhead 33kv powerlines. Read article here...
13:23 / Articles
23 Mar

What is the difference between policies, processes, procedures, task instructions, and safe operating procedures? The New Zealand health and safety industry are full of acronyms, and this too often becomes confusing to business owners and employees, especially when one considers the influx of workers from offshore.  Another factor is that it...
11:56 / Articles
25 Nov

Does the Health and Safety at Work Act mean we can’t have Christmas parties? You can still have Christmas parties! A couple of things to note though: Whether the party is in your workplace or at another venue, you as the host are still responsible, as it is a work function.  Do...
12:35 / Articles / Hints and Tips
12 Nov

A court prosecution mentioned in a recent article is something that all business owners should be aware of, as it has never been previously tested in the courts The Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 defined the responsibilities of a PCBU (and the PCBU meaning) and that of the officers...
12:43 / Articles / In The News