Workplace Health and Safety Strategy for New Zealand to 2015

Rautaki mō te Haumaru me te Hauora o te Wāhi Mahi mō Aotearoa ki te 2015

Snapshot of Progress 2005/06

Implementation Priorities for 2006/07

Significant activities in the 2006/07 year that will contribute to the Strategy outcomes and vision include:

establishing the new Workplace Health and Safety Council
developing a 10 year Strategy Implementation Road Map to identify short-, medium- and long-term measures to achieve the Strategy’s vision
promoting the Strategy to government agencies and key stakeholders and actively seeking partnership projects that support the Strategy
promoting and supporting government leadership through implementation of a Government Leadership Programme involving government as leaders and champions of health and safety practice and procurement
promoting and supporting industry leadership through implementation of an Industry Leadership Programme that involves and acknowledges industry as champions and leaders in health and safety
progressing two National Priority Areas – Airborne Substances and Vulnerable Workers
reviewing the evaluation framework of the Strategy to provide more effective communication and reporting on progress
promoting the links between health and safety performance and workplace productivity
commencing research on the links between health and safety performance and employee participation
progress the Whole of Government project to align better the Health and Safety in Employment /Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation and Compensation/Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Acts as part of the Ministerial Review of Regulatory Frameworks (Quality Regulation)
progressing the whole of government project to improve the surveillance of occupational disease and injury.

Workplace Health and Safety Strategy: Details of Actions and Deliverables under the 2005/06 Action Plan

OUTCOME 1: Government Leadership and Practices

Objective 1a: Set high government expectations for workplace health and safety in New Zealand and ensure that regulatory standards are achieved.

Action: 1a (1) Create an effective governance arrangement, including a tripartite body, to lead and oversee the implementation and future revision of the Strategy.

Deliverable: Recommend preferred options for governance and coordination mechanisms, including administration support.
(DoL, by December 2005)

Progress on Deliverable: The Department of Labour first submitted options for governance of the Strategy to the Minister of Labour in 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.

Deliverable: Report to Associate Minister of Labour on implementation of the Workplace Health and Safety Strategy.
(DoL, 6 monthly)

Progress on Deliverable: This progress report is the first report being made to the Minister of Labour on the implementation of the Strategy.

Deliverable: Begin evaluation of the Workplace Health and Safety Strategy, using the evaluation framework.
(DoL, from July 2005)

Progress on Deliverable: The Key Informant Interviews Report, which evaluated the development of the Strategy up to the launch of the Strategy in June 2005, was completed in May 2006. This report has raised important issues to be addressed in the Strategy’s next phases of development.

Action: 1a (2) Promote the Strategy and encourage key stakeholders to build it into their strategic and business planning processes.

Deliverable: Develop and implement a 2005/06 communication plan for the Workplace Health and Safety Strategy.
(DoL, by June 2005)

Progress on Deliverable: An initial communications plan has been developed. This will be reviewed and updated for promotional activities in the 2006/07 year.

Deliverable: Promote the alignment of 2005/06 and 2006/07 annual business plans developed by the key government agencies represented on the Government Agency Group, with the Workplace Health and Safety Strategy.
(DoL, from July 2005)

Progress on Deliverable: All agencies with a health and safety operational focus have indicated that their ongoing business planning will be focused to achieve the Strategy’s outcomes. The Department of Labour has aligned its business plans for health and safety activities with the Strategy for the past two years.

Action: 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.

Deliverable: Continue to develop an integrated injury database. Publish reports from this database on work-related injuries.
(Injury Information Manager at SNZ, annual reports)

Progress on Deliverable: Statistics New Zealand has completed development of a new injury database and released a new report on work related injuries. Work with data providers is currently underway to improve data so that future reporting can be expanded.

Deliverable: Identify and develop indicators for occupational disease and productivity loss to complement the work-related Valid Injury Outcome Indicators developed for the NZIPS.
(DoL, By June 2006)

Progress on Deliverable: An indicative work programme has been agreed with the Minister of Labour to improve occupational disease surveillance. Having an effective surveillance system is the first priority before determining indicators. By 2007, recommendations will be made to identify where improvements can be made, including data sets.

Deliverable: Report to the Associate Minister of Labour with advice on systems for surveillance of occupational disease and exposures in New Zealand.
(NOHSAC, by December 2005)

Progress on Deliverable: NOHSAC presented their disease and injury report to the Minister of Labour in December 2005.

The exposure report is due to be released in August 2006.

Deliverable: Review the Notifiable Occupational Disease System and commence improvements and promotion to general practitioners.
(DoL, by June 2006)

Progress on Deliverable: This project has been incorporated into the project to improve occupational disease surveillance across government.

Deliverable: Develop safety targets for rail as part of the NZ Rail Safety Strategy.
(MoT, by November 2005)

Progress on Deliverable: The Ministry of Transport has consulted with the rail transport sector on a Rail Targets Position paper. The Ministry received approximately 30 submissions, which showed general support for the targets proposal. Once analysis of the submissions is complete, the Ministry will consider further options, including looking to develop a rail safety strategy.

Action: 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.

Deliverable: Revision of definition of serious harm in the HSE Act.
(DoL, by June 2006)

Progress on Deliverable: The Department of Labour is proceeding with a review of the definition of ‘serious harm’ in the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992, which was put on hold due to the timing of the 2005 General Election. Once the government approval process and requirements are met, the Department will consult with stakeholders and the general public in the next few months.

Deliverable: Continue work programme to revise the HSE Regulations.
(DoL, by June 2008)

Progress on Deliverable: The Ministerial Review of Regulatory Frameworks (Quality Regulation) has superceded this deliverable. As part of the review, the Department is leading a project to better align the HSE/HSNO/IPRC Acts and is participating in other aspects of the review, including improving enforcement. DoL will review specific HSE Regulations progressively. In the interim, regulations concerning child employment and mining are being scrutinised in response to New Zealand meeting ILO Convention 138, and in response to incidents in the mining sector.

Deliverable: Work programme to improve the HSNO legislative and administrative frameworks.
(MfE, ERMANZ, by September 2005)

Progress on Deliverable: Legislation was passed in December 2005 to amend the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996, to improve controls that can be placed on the use of hazardous substances, and to improve enforcement agency administration of the Act. ERMA New Zealand has initiated a project to support implementation of the amendment.

Deliverable: Continue the longitudinal evaluation of the HSE Act. The work programme for 2005/06 will focus on coverage of the Act, including mobile workers, volunteers and employee participation systems. Problem resolution will be evaluated, including hazard notices.
(DoL, by June 2006)

Progress on Deliverable: Ongoing longitudinal evaluation has been overtaken by the Ministerial Review of Regulatory Frameworks (Quality Regulation). The outcome of this review in 2006/7 will inform ongoing evaluation requirements.

Deliverable: Monitor the designation of CAA and Maritime NZ and warranting of CVIU inspectors under the HSE Act.
(DoL (Maritime NZ, CAA, Police, by June 2006)

Progress on Deliverable: An evaluation of the first two years of operation of agencies designated to administer the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 was completed in July 2006 and is currently being considered.

Action: 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.

Deliverable: Rollout the Workplace Small Business Information Unit to other regions outside Auckland.
(DoL, by June 2006)

Progress on Deliverable: The Small Business Information Unit is now operating in Waitakere, Manakau, Tauranga, Nelson and Christchurch.

Action: 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.

Deliverable: Improve DoL investigations by reviewing criteria for what is investigated, and applying the new investigations manual
(DoL, by June 2006)

Progress on Deliverable: A new health and safety investigation manual was developed for the Department of Labour in 2004. This is now being used in all regional offices. The roll-out of this manual has been supported by training for field staff.

Deliverable: Review funding of DoL enforcement activities as part of DoL baseline review.
(DoL, Treasury, by December 2005)

Progress on Deliverable: While the baseline review did not result in a specific review of the funding of enforcement activity within DoL, it did result in prioritisation of all DoL activity. Areas were identified where additional funding is required. These included the capability to ensure effective delivery of critical (HSE/HSNO) services. Further work is now being undertaken to determine what funding is required to build capability and ensure effective service delivery, as well as supporting the government's economic transformation agenda.

Action: 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).

Deliverable: Upgrade health measurement and monitoring equipment used by DoL health and safety inspectors.
(DoL, by December 2005)

Progress on Deliverable: The purchase of equipment has been completed.

Deliverable: Review core occupational health training for DoL health and safety inspectors and provide training in the use of upgraded health measurement and monitoring equipment.
(DoL, by June 2006)

Progress on Deliverable: Review of the core occupational health modules has been completed, and revised have beenmodules implemented. The training of staff to use the new equipment has been completed.

Deliverable: Develop and implement DoL Poor Performer Programme and integrate with ACC incentive programmes.
(DoL, from July 2005)

Progress on Deliverable: The Department of Labour has commenced a pilot “turning the corner” programme in Auckland for construction companies that have poor health and safety performance. Although this programme has not yet been formally evaluated, it appears to have had some success in improving health and safety performance in these workplaces.

Deliverable: Continue to develop Safety Profile Assessment Number system to rate maritime operators.
(Maritime NZ, ongoing)

Progress on Deliverable: A trial system for commercial rafting operations has commenced.

Deliverable: Improved training of Maritime NZ staff on HSE audit and investigation processes.
(Maritime NZ, from July 2005)

Progress on Deliverable: Regular training of auditors and investigators is ongoing.

Deliverable: Recruitment and training of CAA field inspectors and field safety advisors to administer the HSE Act.
(CAA, by December 2005)

Progress on Deliverable: Recruitment of health and safety inspectors occurs as needed.

Training of all CAA staff on the HSE Act has commenced starting with senior and mid level managers.

Deliverable: Begin HSE audits on aviation industry document holders by warranted HSE inspectors and CAA auditors.
(CAA, by December 2005)

Progress on Deliverable: An annual programme of audits now exists.

Deliverable: Continue to develop safety rating systems for commercial transport operators.
(Land Transport NZ, ongoing)

Progress on Deliverable: Land Transport New Zealand is developing a safety rating system for commercial transport operators. Funding has been approved for the development project. An initial draft of the Operator Safety Rating Rule has been completed.

Deliverable: Police CVIU staff warranted as health and safety inspectors under the HSE Act use their powers to improve commercial vehicle safety.
(Police, from January 2005)

Progress on Deliverable: The Department of Labour appointed a number of Police officers in the Commercial Vehicle Investigation Unit (CVIU) as health and safety inspectors in early 2005. These staff have used their powers as health and safety inspectors in commercial vehicle investigations, and have liaised with Department of Labour regional staff.

Deliverable: Enhance mechanical inspection capability of Police through recruitment of additional vehicle and safety officers, and use of new brake testing equipment.
(Police, from July 2005)

Progress on Deliverable: CVIU staff have purchased and been trained in the use of new brake testing equipment.

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