Latest news with #GeneralRiskRegulations
NZ Herald
5 days ago
- General
- NZ Herald
Central Hawke's Bay farming family on why kids should never be banned from farm work
The Health and Safety at Work (General Risk and Workplace Management) Regulations 2016 currently state that no workers under that age can be involved in the 'manufacture or preparation of goods for trade or sale' or any other work likely to compromise health and safety. The maximum punishment for breaching the regulation was a $50,000 fine. In the announcement, van Velden said one proposed change was to amend the General Risk Regulations to make it clear that young people could safely take part in light chores on family farms, such as feeding chickens. Labour leader Chris Hipkins has criticised the move as something that isn't really needed. 'I think this is a policy in search of a problem. Farmers are more than capable of telling their kids which chores they can and can't do. I think we should just leave that to parents.' Stoddart said she hoped to see common sense prevail through the consultation and with any possible changes. 'As long as it's common sense and done the right way and there is a benefit to caring for our kids and protecting them, then yes. 'It is setting some guidelines to protect children, protect families, protect farmers, basically what we are doing already, but having it so it is a guideline you can see and follow.' Consultation will take place with farmers and the wider agriculture sector until September, on a possible change to regulations that govern health and safety requirements for workers under 15 years of age. Van Velden said this included 'making space for children to safely learn and contribute to farm life in ways that are safe and age-appropriate'. Stoddart said she had always made a concerted effort to take the time to teach about the light chores and everyday tasks and the dangers that came with it. 'We are always working with our children on the farm and setting up boundaries and rules to protect them. 'Kids are still learning - they don't know the boundaries that you have learnt along the way.' Lewis Stoddart, 14, helps with pest control under the guidance of his parents. She said as a parent, part of her job as a farm worker and mum was to assess the risk, and ensure what they were doing was age-appropriate and safe. 'If we are working in the yards with cattle, you have them in an area where they are safe, and you do pull them back if they are trying to do more than what they should.' Stoddart said she hoped never to see a time when kids couldn't experience life on the farm and were confined to their homes. 'It would change why you would do this as a lifestyle, that is your farming culture, so it would be very limiting.' Federated Farmers New Zealand president Wayne Langford said farmers had been calling for clarity on the rules. 'Taking a closer look at these rules is really important, so it's disappointing a lot of people have gotten the wrong end of the stick. 'The Government aren't trying to add layers of bureaucracy or wrap farm kids up in cotton wool.' Van Velden expected that Cabinet would make a decision in November, with any changes implemented by mid-2026. Michaela Gower joined Hawke's Bay Today in 2023 and is based out of the Hastings newsroom. She covers Dannevirke and Hawke's Bay news and loves sharing stories about farming and rural communities.
Scoop
28-07-2025
- General
- Scoop
Practical Safety Changes Coming For Family Farms
Hon Brooke van Velden Minister of Workplace Relations and Safety Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden has announced targeted consultation with farmers and the wider agriculture sector to ensure health and safety regulations reflect the realities of farm life. 'I'm consulting with rural Kiwis in the agriculture sector on changes that will ensure health and safety requirements are workable and practical,' says Ms van Velden. 'Farmers know their farms and the risks that come with farming life better than anyone. They've told me the law needs to recognise that the farm is often both their workplace and their home. That includes making space for children to safely learn and contribute to farm life in ways that are safe and age-appropriate.' One proposed change is to amend the General Risk Regulations to make it clear that young people can safely take part in light chores on family farms. We'll be consulting with farmers and the agriculture sector on the thresholds for light chores children can do on farms, like collecting eggs, feeding small animals and watering plants, while ensuring safety is not compromised. I expect higher-risk activities such as being near heavy machinery like a hay baler will remain off-limits. As children grow older, they'll be able to undertake more complex tasks with supervision and training, such as driving a tractor. These changes will give confidence to farming families that their children can continue to be involved with the family business. 'I have also heard that farmers and forestry operators want industry-led codes of practice that reflect real-world conditions. I have asked WorkSafe to develop two Approved Codes of Practice (ACOPs) in consultation with the agriculture sector. While compliance with ACOPs is currently voluntary, as part of my health and safety reform, I am making a change to the ACOP model to reassure people that if they comply with an ACOP, they have done enough to meet their health and safety duties. WorkSafe will be developing an ACOP on roles and responsibilities in agriculture to help farmers navigate work activities. In particular, it will provide clearer guidance on overlapping duties and PCBU responsibilities in agriculture. 'Farmers and other businesses coming on to the farm need to know what health and safety duties they are each responsible for and how they can best work together to manage the risks. For example, if a fencing contractor is working on a farm, both the contractor and the farmer will need to manage risks relating to their work, like moving vehicles or the use of agricultural sprays. Another ACOP that will be developed will focus on the safe use of farm vehicles and machinery, ensuring guidance reflects how modern farms operate. It will cover the safe use of quad bikes, tractors, light utility vehicles such as side-by-sides, and two-wheel motorbikes, as well as farm machinery. 'Too many people are killed or seriously injured in quad-bike related incidents. However, I understand there are varying practices and views on what protections will best enhance safety and reduce harm. 'It is important that the ACOP provides practical, workable advice on the safe use of quad bikes and light tractors in a variety of circumstances to help address the high rates of harm. 'I expect WorkSafe to work closely with the agriculture sector when developing these ACOPs to ensure that any rules are sensible and workable. It is important that farmers who know their work best are able to help shape the rules that will help keep them safe,' says Ms van Velden 'These changes will save time and costs for businesses and workers as we cut red-tape to make it easier to do business. When our Kiwi businesses thrive, there are more jobs and lower prices for all New Zealanders.' • These changes are part of the wider health and safety reform, which delivers on the ACT-National Coalition Agreement commitment to reform health and safety laws and regulations. • A summary of all the changes and major milestones:
