Employer Bulletin | 09 June

As part of broader health and safety reforms, WorkSafe will significantly refocus from an enforcement agency to one that engages early to support businesses and individuals to manage their critical risks, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says.

 “During my public consultation, I heard many concerns from a wide range of Kiwi businesses and workers about WorkSafe’s inconsistency, culture and lack of guidance. It was a constant theme on the roadshow from all parts of the country.

“For too long, businesses and employers have asked for more guidance and help from WorkSafe on how to comply with health and safety legislation, only to be told it’s not WorkSafe’s job. 

“A culture where the regulator is feared for its punitive actions rather than appreciated for its ability to provide clear and consistent guidance is not conducive to positive outcomes in the workplace.

 “WorkSafe has started slashing outdated guidance documents from its website and will be updating guidance where necessary.,” says Ms van Velden. “These documents were identified as being no longer relevant, not reflecting current practice and technology, or containing content that is covered by other more up-to-date guidance. Removing and replacing outdated guidance will make it much easier for people to find the help they’re looking for and ensures WorkSafe is giving consistent and clear advice.

 “I will also restructure WorkSafe’s appropriation to increase fiscal transparency and support delivery of my expectations. For some time, WorkSafe has struggled to effectively articulate the cost and effectiveness of its activities, making it difficult to monitor and assess the value of activities or the merit of requests for further funding. 

“I want the public to receive a better experience in their everyday interactions with WorkSafe. The public will be able to provide feedback on the timeliness and effectiveness of WorkSafe’s guidance, inspections and other engagements,” says Ms van Velden

In today’s Bulletin:

• Procedure still required to handle employee’s violence
• Employee’s lawyer can settle case without employee realising
• Employee’s contracted worksite is deemed to be controlling third party
• Procedural flaws in addressing theft allegations
• Delicate investigation still calls for following procedural requirements
• Eight news updates of interest for employers including: Building consent system productivity on the rise; Views sought on new Building Product Specifications; International visitor spending on the up; Rising dairy prices lift export prices, New tools to fight retail crime welcomed; Ruakura four-lane road to boost Hamilton’s economic growth; WorkSafe makes significant shift to rebalance its activities and Fish & Game reforms to modernise organisation.
• Fourteen bills open for submission

If you have any questions, about this case or other employment relation matters, call the Advice Line team on 0800 800 362.