Latest news with #HealthandSafetyatWork
NZ Herald
7 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.
NZ Herald
28-07-2025
- General
- NZ Herald
Govt to clarify whether farm kids are safe collecting eggs and watering plants
The Government is seeking to make it clear farm kids can do light chores, like collecting eggs, without compromising safety. Photo / Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech. Govt to clarify whether farm kids are safe collecting eggs and watering plants The Government is seeking to make it clear farm kids can do light chores, like collecting eggs, without compromising safety. Photo / The Government will spend two months consulting with farmers to clarify whether children are safe doing 'light chores', including collecting eggs, feeding animals and watering plants. Workplace Relations Minister Brooke van Velden confirmed WorkSafe would conduct consultation until September on a possible change to regulations that governed health and safety requirements for workers under 15 years of age. The Health and Safety at Work (General Risk and Workplace Management) Regulations 2016 stated no workers under that age could 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. Van Velden, citing her nationwide health and safety roadshow, said some farmers had said the law didn't adequately recognise farms were both a workplace and their home.
The Herald Scotland
04-07-2025
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
Teenager lost his thumb in Highland hotel horror incident
His thumb made contact with the blade and was cut off, with the man taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness. Colleagues located his thumb a short time later and after initial treatment the teenager was transferred to St John's Hospital in Livingston where he underwent surgery to successfully reattach it. Read More: He believes his thumb is working to around 70% of what it used to be, and it has healed as much as it can. It is shorter than his other thumb, he can't bend it fully and it is permanently swollen. In winter he suffers significant discomfort when the thumb becomes stiff and sore. The company for which he was working, 3B Construction, has been fined £40,000 at Tain Sheriff Court following an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and a prosecution brought by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS). The HSE investigation found that 3B Construction failed to undertake a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to employees operating a table circular saw; failed to ensure that the system of work for the operation of said saw was safe and appropriately supervised; and failed to provide apprentice joiners with the information, instruction and training needed to operate said saw safely. The saw table in the condition it was in when the teenager's thumb (not pictured) was cut off (Image: Asmar Gondal) The company pleaded guilty to Section 2(1) and Section 33(1)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, and the man has since resumed his apprenticeship with another firm. HSE inspector Norman Schouten said: 'While this young man continues to live with the trauma and impact of this incident, it's greatly encouraging to see him continuing to work as a joiner. 'However, it is only the efforts of medical professionals that prevented this from becoming a permanent amputation following the failures of the company. 'Companies and individuals should be aware that HSE and COPFS will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.' 3B Construction has been approached for comment.
Otago Daily Times
02-06-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
WorkSafe's focus moves from enforcement to advice
By Russell Palmer of RNZ 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% 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% 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. 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: • Supporting work health and safety practice • Enforcing work health and safety compliance • Authorising and monitoring work health and safety activities • Energy safety 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 resources 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." 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."
Otago Daily Times
02-06-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
WorkSafe shakeup: shift from enforcement to advice
By Russell Palmer of RNZ 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% 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% 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. 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: • Supporting work health and safety practice • Enforcing work health and safety compliance • Authorising and monitoring work health and safety activities • Energy safety 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 resources 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." 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."
