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 2: What Does The Strategy Say?
A summary of the outcomes, objectives and actions of the WHSS
Strategy outcome
1: Government Leadership and Practices
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.
Strategy objectives
1a: Set high government expectations for workplace health and safety in New Zealand and ensure that regulatory standards are achieved.
1a (1) Create an effective governance arrangement, including a tripartite body, to lead and oversee the implementation and future revision of the Strategy.
1a (2) Promote the Strategy and encourage key stakeholders to build it into their strategic and business planning processes.
1a (3) Develop performance indicators and targets for workplace health and safety performance at a national level, and track progress against these using improved measurement systems.
1a (4) Develop, review, align and evaluate standards and guidance (such as codes of practice and guidelines) within the legislative frameworks of the HSE Act and the HSNO Act, so they are clear, relevant and effective.
1a (5) Ensure that practical information and support services are available to help workplaces achieve and surpass standards required under the HSE Act and the HSNO Act.
1a (6) Ensure that enforcement activities (such as audits, inspections, investigations, and prosecutions) under the HSE Act, and the HSNO Act in places of work, are rigorous, fair and adequately resourced.
1a (7) Improve the effectiveness and efficiency of enforcement activities and ensure that their focus includes the Strategy’s national priorities (such as airborne substances and workplace vehicles).
1b: Provide leadership in workplace health and safety through the government’s roles as an employer and purchaser.
1b (1) Establish performance expectations for government agencies (as employers) in relation to workplace health and safety practices.
1b (2) Increase government agency participation in ACC incentive programmes.
1b (3) Provide practical guidance to improve government reporting (as an employer) in relation to workplace health and safety.
1b (4) Stock-take workplace health and safety practices in both the central and local government sectors, to encourage best practice and monitor progress.
1b (5) Review government purchasing and contracting guidelines and practices, to promote workplace health and safety within a fair and effective trading environment.
1c: Improve coordination and alignment of government agency roles and activities.
1c (1) Clarify and, where appropriate, realign the roles and responsibilities of government agencies with workplace health and safety responsibilities, and strengthen interagency relationships at both regional and national levels.
1c (2) Increase joint planning by government agencies to ensure better co-ordination and alignment of work programmes.
1c (3) Improve collaboration between agencies to get the best possible alignment between ACC incentive programmes and the HSE legislative framework.
1c (4) Improve agency coordination for the management of hazardous substances in workplaces.
1c (5) Coordinate government investment in workplace health and safety research and set research priorities that are aligned with this Strategy.
1c (6) Develop more effective processes for sharing data and information between agencies.
Strategy outcome
2: Preventive Workplace Cultures
Workplaces have values, attitudes, practices and systems that prevent harm to people at work.
Strategy objectives
2a: Increase the recognition among business owners, directors and senior managers that health and safety benefits their business.
2a (1) Review the literature and conduct research into the business benefits of a preventive approach to workplace health and safety.
2a (2) Develop and promote practical tools to help workplaces identify and quantify business benefits.
2a (3) Communicate the benefits of workplace health and safety to business owners, directors and senior managers through industry networks and business leaders.
2a (4) Promote more extensive reporting of health and safety performance in public documents (such as annual reports), to enable benchmarking and encourage best practice.
2b: Increase the commitment and capability of managers to systematically and effectively manage workplace health and safety.
2b (1) Provide practical guidance and tools to support the systematic and effective management of health and safety.
2b (2) Build the capability of managers to manage effectively health and safety systems, particularly in small businesses and high-risk industries.
2b (3) Raise managers’ awareness about the benefits of workplace health and safety, and about employers’ legal obligations to provide safe working environments.
2b (4) Increase the reach and effectiveness of ACC incentive programmes.
2b (5) Promote the systematic and effective management of health and safety through industry accreditation programmes and industry training programmes.
2b (6) Acknowledge excellence in health and safety management through recognition schemes and awards.
2c: Ensure that workers participate effectively in processes for improving workplace health and safety.
2c (1) Raise awareness about the benefits of employee participation, and also about employers’ legal obligations to involve workers in workplace health and safety.
2c (2) Provide practical guidance for workplaces on employee-participation systems and practices to support effective involvement of workers in health and safety matters.
2c (3) Recognise the role that health and safety representatives play in the workplace, and provide them with support, resources and practical tools.
2c (4) Build the capability of health and safety representatives through training.
2c (5) Promote and enforce legal requirements relating to employee-participation systems.
Strategy outcome
3: Industry Leadership and Community Engagement
Industries lead improvements in workplace health and safety practices, and there is strong support for workplace health and safety in the wider community.
Strategy objectives
3a: Develop and implement industry-led initiatives to improve workplace health and safety
3a (1) Create and strengthen industry health and safety groups and business/union partnerships as a means of directing and coordinating industry initiatives.
3a (2) Provide more effective government support for industry-led initiatives.
3a (3) Develop and implement industry strategies and plans aligned to the Strategy.
3a (4) Produce and promote industry-specific standards and guidance material for significant health and safety issues.
3a (5) Use industry networks to raise awareness of workplace health and safety issues and to spread best-practice information.
3a (6) Develop and modify industry programmes for training and accreditation, to achieve an increased focus on health and safety.
3a (7) Build the evidence base for industry-led initiatives through investment in research and development.
3a (8) Strengthen the competency of occupational safety and health professionals and practitioners through specialised education and training, certification and professional development programmes.
3b: Encourage and enable industry and community leaders to promote workplace health and safety to their networks and communities
3b (1) Identify industry and community leaders to act as champions or spokespersons for improved workplace health and safety.
3b (2) Support industry and community leaders by providing them with information and communication resources that will be relevant to their networks and communities.
3b (3) Establish and provide forums in which industry and community leaders can communicate messages about health and safety to their networks and communities,
3b (4) Evaluate the effectiveness of the promotional activities carried out by industry and community leaders.
3c: Raise awareness and understanding of workplace health and safety in the wider community
3c (1) Raise the profile of workplace health and safety as an issue of public importance, by drawing attention to the impact of work-related disease and injury on individuals, families/whānau and businesses.
3c (2) Increase awareness and understanding of specific workplace health and safety issues in the wider community, through public awareness and education programmes.
3c (3) Promote the development of personal skills in workplace health and safety within the wider community through school-based education in health and safety.
3c (4) Make links between workplace health and safety and community-based injury prevention and safety initiatives.
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