Review of the Workplace Health and Safety Strategy for New Zealand to 2015 (WHSS)

Working paper - WHSS Stock-take: Detail and progress of activity 2005-2008

Appendix 1: What's Been Happening

Activity 2005-2008 for Outcome 1: Government Leadership and Practices - Page 1

Government promotes a high level of workplace health and safety performance in New Zealand, and has excellent health and safety practices in its own workplaces.

Objectives

  • Objective 1a: Set high government expectations for workplace health and safety in New Zealand and ensure that regulatory standards are achieved.
  • Objective 1b: Provide leadership in workplace health and safety through the government’s roles as an employer and purchaser.
  • Objective 1c: Improve coordination and alignment of government agency roles and activities.
  • See Appendix 2 for details of actions.

Description of activity

Recommend preferred options for governance and coordination mechanisms, including administration support.

Lead agency - DoL

Progress update/completion date

Completed December 2005. Following a period of consultation with Business New Zealand and the Combined Trade Unions of New Zealand, the Minister of Labour approved a modified proposal in June 2006.

Link to objectives/actions:

1a (1)

Description of activity

6 monthly reporting to Minister of Labour on implementation of the WHSS.

Lead agency - DoL

Progress update/completion date

Ongoing.

Link to objectives/actions:

1a (1)

Description of activity

Development of a Workplace Health and Safety Implementation Road Map to assist the phased implementation of the WHSS and to stimulate discussion across stakeholders to identify the big issues for workplace health and safety in New Zealand.

Lead agency - DoL

Progress update/completion date

Draft completed August 2007.

A stakeholder engagement process is being developed for 2008/09 to prioritise the issues, inform potential indicators and strengthen the Road Map’s links to the WHSS.

Link to objectives/actions:

1a (1)

Description of activity

Development and implementation of a communication plan for the Workplace Health and Safety Strategy.

Lead agency - DoL

Progress update/completion date

Plan developed June 2005.
Reviewed/updated 2006.
Implementation ongoing.
Comms plan is currently being reviewed

Link to objectives/actions:

1a (2)

Description of activity

Workplace Health and Safety Council

  1. Cabinet approval
  2. Member appointment
  3. Meetings

Lead agency

Progress update/completion date

  1. completed November 2006.
  2. completed March 2007.
  3. Meetings began May 2007, and are ongoing on a quarterly basis.

The WHSC has considered a wide range of health and safety issues and met with key agencies with health and safety responsibilities.

Over the next year, the Council will use this knowledge and will engage with stakeholders on the best ways to improve health and safety in New Zealand.

Link to objectives/actions:

1a (1), 1a (2), 1a (3), 1a (4), 1a (5), 1a (6), 1a (7)

Description of activity

Ratification of ILO Convention 155 on occupational health and safety and the working environment.

Lead agency - DoL

Progress update/completion date

Ratified June 2007. Ratifying Convention 155 signals New Zealand's commitment to the on-going promotion of improved health and safety in our workplaces. Convention 155 will enter into force on 12 June 2008.

Link to objectives/actions:

1a (1), 1a (2), 1a (3), 1a (4), 1a (5), 1a (6), 1a (7)

Description of activity

Government Leadership Programme

Programme that aims to involve government as leaders and champions in health and safety practice and procurement.  The programme includes:

  1. A review of government purchasing and contracting guidelines
  2. development of specific health and safety procurement guidance
  3. Leadership of a whole-of-government workplace vehicles working group set up to inform the National Road Strategy to 2020.

Lead agency - DoL

Progress update/completion date

  1. Advice provided November 2006 to the Minister of Labour on options to progress responsible contracting across government, including health and safety in procurement. Socially Responsible Contracting in      the Public Service: A snapshot of current practice was completed in December 2007.
  2. Draft document relating to Section 18 of the HSE Act – clarifying roles and responsibilities for principals and contractors released for consultation in June 2008. Final version expected to be published mid 2009. 
    A website has been set up (www.futurefleet.co.nz) presenting vehicle safety information, including procurement advice for fleet buyers.
  3. Group established May 2008. Agencies involved include ACC, NZ Transport Agency and CVIU.

Link to objectives/actions:

1a (1), 1a (2), 1a (3), 1a (4), 1a (5), 1a (6), 1a (7), 1b (1), 1b (2), 1b (3), 1b (4), 1b (5)

Description of activity

Evaluating the implementation of the WHSS

  1. Preparation of key informant interviews report – evaluating the development of the WHSS up to its launch.
  2. Development of evaluation framework
  3. Review of evaluation framework

Lead agency - DoL

Progress update/completion date

  1. completed May 2006
  2. completed June 2005
  3. completed June 2007.

Link to objectives/actions:

1a (3)

Description of activity

Promotion of WHSS

Media articles, promotional material and inter-agency meetings, including:

  1. development of the workplace health and safety “Stop Think Do” message
  2. a feature article in Farmers Weekly and weather-related safety messages on the Met Service website
  3. the “Grim Harvest” campaign, raising awareness of health and safety for agricultural workers in summer and autumn.

Lead agency - DoL

Progress update/completion date

  1. Implemented 2007
  2. Implemented March 2007
  3. Implemented December 2007 and ongoing for at least another two years.

Link to objectives/actions:

1a (2)

Description of activity

Establishment of a Chief Executives’ Injury Prevention Forum to support the progress of NZIPS – the strategic framework for all injury prevention activity in New Zealand.

Lead agency - ACC

Progress update/completion date

Forum established in February 2007. The Forum provides strategic integration of government injury prevention activities and works towards enhancing collaboration in the injury prevention sector.

Link to objectives/actions:

1a (1), 1a (2), 1a (3), 1a (4), 1a (5), 1a (6), 1a (7)

Description of activity

  1. Development of an integrated injury database.
  2. Publish reports from this database on work-related injuries.

Lead agency - SNZ (Injury Information Manager)

Progress update/completion date

  1. completed 2006
  2. Annual releases of the report Injury statistics: Work-related claims are ongoing.

Link to objectives/actions:

1a (3)

Description of activity

Rail safety strategy development

  1. Identification of rail safety targets to inform strategy.
  2. Development of a rail safety strategy to further improve rail safety. This work includes determining successful rail safety interventions and examining further steps that may reduce rail trauma.

Lead agency - MoT

Progress update/completion date

  1. Completed Dec 2005.
  2. A draft strategy is currently with key stakeholders for comment.

Link to objectives/actions:

1a (1), 1a (3)

Description of activity

Consideration of existing international and national professional development models, training and qualifications available in New Zealand and Australia, the advantages of OHS professional standards in New Zealand and the issues affecting standards development, as well as the role DoL could take. 

This work was undertaken in response to a strong interest from the OHS industry (supported by the Safeguard OHS Qualifications Survey) in developing qualifications and professional standards for health and safety practitioners.

Lead agency - DoL

Progress update/completion date

Internal report completed November 2008. The report:

  1. identified existing international and national professional standard frameworks
  2. identified existing Australia and New Zealand H&S qualifications and training opportunities
  3. considered the advantages and disadvantages of OH&S professional standards and identified issues to be addressed in New Zealand to enable professional standards
  4. considered the role the Department could take in the development of professional standards.

Work is ongoing.

Link to objectives/actions:

1a (1), 1a (2), 1a (3), 1a (4), 1a (5), 1a (6), 1a (7)

Description of activity

Provision of training workshops for HSNO Act test certifiers.

Lead agency - ERMA NZ

Progress update/completion date

Ongoing. Seven workshops completed 2007/08. Attendees included test certifiers, enforcement agencies and industry representatives. Training courses were also held for enforcement officers from various agencies.

Link to objectives/actions:

1a (7)

Description of activity

Improvement of workplace health and safety legislative frameworks

  1. A Ministerial review of regulatory frameworks, led by MED.
  2. development of proposals to amend the HSNO Act to better align it with the HSE framework
  3. development of proposals to amend the HSE Act to strengthen New Zealand’s conformity with ILO Convention 155 on Occupational Safety and Health
  4. review of the definition of serious harm in the HSE Act
  5. consultation on proposals to improve the HSE (Mining Underground) Regulations
  6. Amendment of the HSE (Pressure Equipment, Cranes and Passenger Ropeways) Regulations
  7. development of policy proposals for HSNO Act infringement notices
  8. review of stakeholder views on the management of asbestos in New Zealand under the HSE (Asbestos) Regulations
  9. review of outdated regulations made under previous legislation superseded by the HSE Act or by current guidelines.

Lead agency - DoL, MfE

Progress update/completion date

  1. Completed July 2007. One component of the review was a project to improve the interface between the HSE, HSNO and IPRC Acts as they affect businesses. A summary of findings was published at the end of the project.
  2. Completed April 2007.  Amendments now contained in the Regulatory Improvements Bill introduced to the House in 2008.
  3. Completed 2007. Amendments concerning multi-employer worksites now contained in HSE Amendment Bill 2008 (No. 2).
  4. Consultation has occurred, and in 2008 a draft regulation has been proposed in order to improve the coverage and its consistency with the HSE Act.
  5. Consultation occurred April/July 2008. Feedback did not provide a mandate for specific changes to the regulations, but have contributed to the setting of a further work programme. Work ongoing.
  6. Consultation occurred in 2008 and amendments made.
  7. Work still in progress.
  8. Report completed 2007. Work ongoing.
  9. Completed October 2008. 3 sets of regulations (Abrasive blasting regulations 1958; Electroplating regulations 1950; and Factories and Commercial Premises (first aid) regulations 1985) repealed. A further 3 sets of regulations (Noxious substances regulations 1954; Spraycoating regulations 1962; and Lead Process regulations 1950) due to be repealed by the Public Health Bill 2008.

Link to objectives/actions:

1a (1), 1a (2), 1a (3), 1a (4), 1a (5), 1a (6), 1a (7)

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