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RNZ News
02-06-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Brooke van Velden shifts WorkSafe's focus from enforcement to advice
Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone The government is shifting its work and safety regulator's priorities from enforcement to advice, saying this will help address concerns about underfunding and a "culture of fear". First steps include updating more than 50 guidance documents and launching the hotline - announced in March - for reporting excessive road cones . The restructure goes much deeper than that, though, with Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden issuing a new letter of expectations, rearranging the regulator's finances and redefining its main purpose in legislation. The government has cut $2.2 million from the agency's funding since 2023 - a 1.6 percent cut from $141.1m to $138.9m - with heightened inflation over that time further increasing costs. The government also set aside $7m for restructuring the regulator - paid for out of the Health and Safety at Work levy - this year's Budget confirming that "while WorkSafe progressed with its proposed restructure, this funding was not ultimately required". About 124 permanent roles have been cut since 2023 - from 724 to 600, a more than 17 percent trim - although a spokesperson said the agency was now approved for 675 staff and was recruiting for those roles, including new inspectors. Van Velden said she expected the regulator to review its enforcement and prosecution decision-making to focus on "clear breaches and causation", and being even handed. This would include "strengthening its approach to worker breaches of duty". "I've been hearing there is a real culture of fear of people around WorkSafe, and I want people to feel like if they ask for help they will get that help - and so for any business or any worker who wants to know what it is that they should be doing to keep their workers safe, they will know where to go." She denied that this could mean slowing down the rate of prosecutions, however. "No, prosecutions will still remain. I think it's important that we do have enforcement, but we do need to balance that correctly with the upfront guidance." The agency would now have a stronger focus on critical risk and providing consistent, practical advice and guidance for employers to comply with. Van Velden also set out expectations for greater use of codes of conduct. While WorkSafe would continue to work on these, industries would now be invited to draft their own for approval by the minister, making up the majority of new codes in future. "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," she said. WorkSafe has been told to shift its focus from enforcement to advice. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver Her proposal taken to Cabinet said the changes would shift WorkSafe "from an enforcement agency to one that engages early and well to support businesses and individuals to manage their risks". "I want to see a shift from a regulator that has a safety at all cost mentality, to a regulator that focusses on helping duty-holders do what is proportionate to the risks, including rooting out over-compliance." To support this and "increase fiscal transparency", the regulator's finances would be split into four categories: WorkSafe's other functions identified in the law would become secondary, with Van Velden saying this would help it "articulate the cost and effectiveness of its activities". The moves were prompted in part by feedback from businesses, collected during a series of roadshow meetings in 11 towns and cities and over 1000 submissions provided in response to a discussion document consulted on over five months. "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," van Velden said. "WorkSafe has started slashing outdated guidance documents from its website and will be updating guidance where necessary. Fifty documents have already been removed and more will follow. These documents were identified as being no longer relevant, nor reflecting current practice and technology, or containing content that is covered by other more up-to-date guidance." Her Cabinet paper stated the changes would also "help address concerns heard during the consultation that WorkSafe may be underfunded" by making clearer where its resouces were being spent. She confirmed the changes would not come with any new funding. "No, there won't be any new funding. I've heard from people who have suggested there does need to be new funding, and I disagree ... WorkSafe has been funded well, but it's very difficult to find where exactly that money is going within WorkSafe," she told RNZ. "It's been very clear over a number of reviews into WorkSafe over the years that they have not been structuring their appropriation correctly. They got into a very big deficit. They've now pulled themselves out of that deficit and are in surplus. But there are still many, many questions as to, where are they spending that money." WorkSafe says it's concentrating on the sectors where the most serious harm occurs - agriculture, forestry, construction and manufacturing. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon Her letter to the board set out an expectation the regulator would foster the use of Approved Codes of Practice. WorkSafe would need to provide advice to industries on how to develop and submit these for ministerial approval, while also conducting its own and starting new ones in industries "where there is no clear industry body representation". "While most future ACOPS will be industry-led, I still expect WorkSafe to develop ACOPs where appropriate." WorkSafe would also be expected to strengthen its oversight of other regulators, including "comprehensive monitoring of the third parties framework and addressing stakeholder concerns about inconsistent interpretations by third party certifiers". She expected cultural change to be reflected in its new statement of intent due out in October. Legislative change would be included in a Health and Safety at Work Reform Bill to be introduced later this year. In a statement, a WorkSafe spokesperson said it was working closely with the government on the changes. "We are well placed to deliver on the minister's expectations, via our new strategy and new leadership. WorkSafe is concentrating on the sectors where the most serious harm occurs - agriculture, forestry, construction and manufacturing - and on well-known causes of harm such as vehicles, machinery, working at height and harmful exposures. "Our Statement of Performance Expectations, due out in the coming weeks, will outline our strategic direction, budget, activities, and performance indicators for the 2025-26 year. Our most recent Impacts and Effectiveness Monitor report found 75 percent of businesses surveyed identified health and safety improvements due to their interactions with WorkSafe." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
BBC News
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Cornwall garage fined £200k over vibrating tool injuries
A car dealership in Cornwall has been fined more than £200,000 after an investigation found its employees had been exposed to risks from vibrating workers at a Rowes Garage body shop in Truro were diagnosed with Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) from tools such as random orbital sanders, Plymouth Magistrates' Court court heard how the garage had not put in place adequate measures to assess and monitor exposure to Garage Ltd, in Fifth Avenue Business Park, Gateshead, pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act. Worsening symptoms The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said one employee had been suffering from symptoms for about eight years."My fingers would go white and I'd lose feeling," the employee said."This was particularly bad in damp or cold weather."I can say that over the years my symptoms seem to have got worse, the blanching has spread and I find it hard to pick up small items." 'Below expected standards' HSE inspector Emma O'Hara said employees had been exposed to risks from vibrating tools for "a significant period of time"."They fell below expected standards, which has been reflected in the fine that has been imposed," she said."HAVS is a serious and disabling permanent condition and HSE will not hesitate to take action against employers that fall below the expected standard."The company was fined £204,000, ordered to pay a £2,000 victim surcharge and £8,099 in costs during a hearing on 8 May.
The Sun
06-05-2025
- The Sun
Three schoolboys rushed to hospital after being ELECTROCUTED by ‘overhead cables' at posh private boarding school
THREE teens were rushed to hospital after being electrocuted at a top private boarding school. The boys were said to have been zapped by an overhead electrical cable at posh Millfield School in Somerset. 3 The lads, aged 13 to 14, suffered burns and needed surgery following the terrifying incident on Saturday. Ambulances, an air ambulance, a specialist hazard team, fire engine and police scrambled to the scene in the town of Street after the alarm was raised. The school has now been referred to the Health and Safety Executive for investigation. A letter from the £58,000-a-year school's headmaster, Gavin Horgan, to parents said that a 'serious incident occurred yesterday evening.' He said 'contact with overhead electrical cables' had left the teenagers with 'serious injuries.' He added: 'The boys have undergone surgery overnight and are currently in a stable condition. 'It will be some time before we understand the extent of their injuries and it will be a long road to recovery. 'All three students have their families or close family friends with them. 'We are in close contact with the families and they are very grateful for the care that has been afforded to their children.' The school has offered counselling to the other boys in the boarding house where it happened, the head said. Kate and Wills' may send George to co-ed boarding school for key reason - after Princess of Wales does two secret London school tours The headteacher asked parents to 'avoid speculation,' and tried to reassure them that it was an 'isolated incident.' He said that the pupils were 'supported by Millfield staff within moments and emergency services were there within minutes.' A Millfield spokesperson said: 'There is no ongoing danger to others. The entire Millfield Community's thoughts and best wishes are with them all. We ask for everyone to respect their privacy and avoid speculation. We are working closely with the authorities to investigate how the accident occurred.' The school boasts an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a 30,300 square foot riding school, squash courts and a fencing 'salle,'. It is known for its excellence at sport and has also educated England captain Chris Robshaw, Olympic shooter Peter Wilson, the King of Thailand, and pop star Lily Allen. A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police said: 'We were called by the ambulance service at 7.50pm on Saturday 3 May to support them and the fire service in responding to an incident at Millfield School, near Street. 'Three people were taken to hospital with serious injuries. Their next of kin have been informed. 'Following the incident, a referral was made to the Health and Safety Executive who will lead in any investigation.' A HSE spokesperson said: 'HSE is aware of this incident and has been in contact with Avon and Somerset Police and the School to make initial enquiries.'
