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What progress has been made in workplace health and safety in New Zealand over the last three years?
Action area: Leadership
- Many attendees highlighted an increased awareness of health and safety in workplaces with more profile of health and safety from the shop floor through to senior management. Others felt employee participation has also increased.
- But experience is variable, with some attendees of the view that there have been no significant changes and progress.
- A number of industry initiatives were highlighted. Examples provided included the Safety Culture pilot programme within the forestry sector, and the SiteSafe Programme which aims to promote improvements in the health and safety practices of the construction industry.
- The integration of health and safety with productivity is a new and emerging theme identified in the last three years, and was viewed positively by attendees. For example, some larger businesses are using health and safety as a marketing strategy.
- Health and safety is becoming a whole workplace issue, not just confined to the realm of Human Resources, and there have been some safety culture changes as a result.
Action area: Capability
- Many attendees identified the training of an increased number of health and safety representatives in workplaces as a significant area of progress in the last three years.
- Other examples provided were of improved education and training in the areas of numeracy and literacy.
- Attendees pointed to better documentation/systems and off-the-shelf resources to assist in health and safety.
- Some observed it is now easier to recruit H&S professionals and volunteers. Others noted the increase in new associations such the Occupational Health and Safety Industry Group (OHSIG) which works to bring the voice of occupational health and safety to government.
- A wider range of H&S equipment on the market e.g. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) has made a difference to safety standards, and this increases the likelihood of it being worn by a broader group of users.
- Large businesses are making more progress than small business, putting health and safety initiatives in place, but smaller firms are still not seeing the changes.
- Big businesses are driving up the quality of sub-contractors’ health and safety practice through more effective contract management.
- There are more examples of health and safety-related Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) being introduced into performance management.
Action area: Knowledge
- Many attendees identified the training of an increased number of health and safety representatives in workplaces as a significant area of progress in the last three years.
- Some attendees talked about the better availability of health and safety data and statistics, while others felt that little progress has been made in the capturing and reporting of injury statistics. Some felt there was better reporting of accidents.
- Some attendees pointed to a growing understanding of wellness and work life balance – with an increased focus on health, not just safety.
- An increased recognition that injury carries a social cost, not just a financial one, was noted.
Action area: Health and safety infrastructure
- Some attendees felt there had been better working relationships between Government agencies over the last three years. Other attendees encouraged a closer working relationship between the Department of Labour (the Department) and ACC.
- Many attendees felt there needed to be an increased presence of the Department’s staff in workplaces, not only to enforce, but also to assist and advise. Other attendees considered there had been some good relationship-building by the Department’s staff in recent times at a local level.
- There was mixed experience with the Department’s contact centre, with attendees reporting good experiences while others indicated it was difficult to obtain timely and specialised assistance.
- Others felt that a balanced approach from the Department is needed with a mix of ‘carrot’ and ‘stick’ incentives – more compliance-driven awareness. Others felt that the Department is too absent in workplaces.
- Some mention was made of the positive impact that employment relations–focussed legislation and information has made (or could potentially make) on workplace health and safety – work/life balance, rest breaks, flexible working hours etc.
- Programmes offering a reduction in ACC premiums (such as WSMP) have provided a strong incentive for many businesses for improved health and safety.
- Increased reporting rates – possibly due to ACC incentive programmes and/or increased fine levels
- Some attendees felt more use should be made of third-party insurers.
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