Health and Safety not big on small business agenda

Tuesday 04 November 2003

Occupational Safety and Health Service (OSH) is disappointed that many small businesses in Taupo are not complying with the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992.

Last week OSH inspectors visited 62 construction sites and 82 small businesses and discovered over half of small businesses did not have a health and safety system in place.

OSH Service Manager of Taupo- Eastern Bay of Plenty Murray Thompson said that his inspectors were disappointed with the number of small businesses that did not have any health and safety systems.

During the visits 355 improvement notices and 10 prohibition notices were issued

"This is really worrying, as the HSE Act has been law for over ten years and still some employers are not meeting their obligations to that law and to their workers."

Mr Thompson said that in general, the major concerns were with health and safety systems, electrical safety, machine guarding and housekeeping.

He says that compliance in the construction industry had increased since the last visit 12 months ago although health monitoring is still not widely undertaken.

OSH also held a seminar for the adventure tourism industry attended by 40 adventure tourism operators to advise the industry of their responsibilities under the Act.

"Safety is not a matter of chance, it is something that employees and their families have a right to expect from their employers."

In 2002/03 14 people died in New Zealand from construction accidents - five from falling.Small businesses that need information can go to www.workinfo.govt.nz

If a business wants help with developing health and safety plans please contact Dipak on 07 347 9656