Media Release

14 April 2009

The Department of Labour is asking private sector organisations and government agencies for practical and constructive ideas on how to improve health and safety in the workplace.

he Department today launched a review of the Workplace Health and Safety Strategy, a government plan for action to reduce accidents and illness in the workplace.

“The Workplace Health and Safety Strategy has been in place since June 2005, so it’s timely for us to look at what’s worked well, and how we can do things more effectively and efficiently,” says Craig Armitage, head of Workplace Health and Safety at the Department of Labour.

“I’d encourage people and organisations with an interest in workplace health and safety to get involved in this review, so they can help us reduce the human and financial costs of workplace injuries and illnesses.”

The Strategy makes an important contribution to reducing the work toll because it is a way to co-ordinate and prioritise workplace health and safety activities undertaken by government agencies, employer and industry organisations, unions and workplaces, Mr Armitage says.

“It enables government to be more effective in raising awareness of health and safety issues in the workplace. It also supports efforts in the public and private sectors to improve their own systems and processes supporting workplace health and safety.”

Mr Armitage says that, although injury and death rates have come down over the years, the sad reality is that more New Zealanders are injured and killed at work than in most other first world countries.

“The Strategy is one way government agencies and private sector organisations can work together to reduce the work toll. Healthy and safe workplaces enhance business performance and productivity, so we are keen to ensure that the review provides us with practical and constructive ideas for improvements that will benefit New Zealand businesses and their workers.

“These improvements will require a combination of actions by government, industry, workers themselves and the wider community.”

The review has been set up to capture a wide range of opinion and expertise from across New Zealand. It will include four public events in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, consultation with government agencies and in-depth interviews with a range of health and safety practitioners and experts. Written submissions can also be made by individuals and organisations.

Feedback from the review will be included in a report that is expected to be completed in June 2009.  Findings from the review will be reported back to the Minister of Labour for decisions about the new shape of the Strategy before it is announced.

ENDS

EDITORS NOTE

The Review seeks to answer four questions:

1. What progress has been made in workplace health and safety in New Zealand over the last three years?
2. What is working well and should be continued or expanded?
3. What are the main barriers to achieving the goal of “healthy people in safe and productive workplaces”?
4. What should the current and future priorities for workplace health and safety in New Zealand be?

How to have your say:

Post a written submission to:

WHSS review team
Department of Labour
Health and Safety Policy team
PO Box 3705
Wellington

Visit www.whss.govt.nz/review/submissions

Public consultation: There will be four breakfast consultation events in:

• Wellington - 7.30-9.00am 29 April Duxton Hotel, 170 Wakefield Street
• Christchurch - 7.30-9.00am 30 April Rydges Hotel, Corner of Worcester Street & Oxford Terrace
• Dunedin - 7.30-9.00am 1 May Kingsgate Hotel Dunedin, 10 Smith Street
• Auckland - 7.30-9.00am 5 May Waipuna Hotel, 58 Waipuna Road, Mt. Wellington

Editor’s Note
Please note that health and safety services, formerly referred to as Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) should now be referred to as the Department of Labour.