Ideas sought on improving OHS in NZ

The New Zealand Department of Labour is asking private sector organisations and government agencies for practical and constructive ideas on how to improve health and safety in the workplace.

“The Workplace Health and Safety Strategy has been in place since June 2005, so it’s timely for us to look at what’s worked well and how we can do things more effectively and efficiently,” says Craig Armitage, head of Workplace Health and Safety at the Department of Labour. “I’d encourage people and organisations with an interest in workplace health and safety to get involved in this review, so they can help us reduce the human and financial costs of workplace injuries and illnesses.”

The strategy makes an important contribution to reducing the work toll because it is a way to coordinate and prioritise workplace health and safety activities undertaken by government agencies, employer and industry organisations, unions and workplaces.

Armitage states: “It enables government to be more effective in raising awareness of health and safety issues in the workplace. It also supports efforts in the public and private sectors to improve their own systems and processes supporting workplace health and safety.

“Although injury and death rates have come down over the years, the sad reality is that more New Zealanders are injured and killed at work than in most other first-world countries. The strategy is one way government agencies and private sector organisations can work together to reduce the work toll. Healthy and safe workplaces enhance business performance and productivity, so we are keen to ensure that the review provides us with practical and constructive ideas for improvements that will benefit New Zealand businesses and their workers. These improvements will require a combination of actions by government, industry, workers themselves and the wider community.”

The review has been set up to capture a wide range of opinion and expertise from across the country. It will include public events, consultation with government agencies and in-depth interviews with health and safety practitioners and experts.

Feedback will be included in a report expected to be completed in June 2009. Findings will be reported back to the Minister of Labour for decisions about the new shape of the strategy before it is announced.