Latest news with #vanVelden
Scoop
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Health And Safety Regulations To Support Science And Technology
Hon Brooke van Velden Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden is consulting on proposed changes to health and safety regulations to better support innovation in New Zealand's science and technology sector. 'As part of the wider health and safety reforms, we're clearing the way for scientific progress by reducing complexity and making it easier to understand what's required,' says Ms van Velden. 'We've heard that the current regulations don't match what university laboratories do, creating unnecessary compliance challenges. Researchers and innovators need a system that supports their work, not one that stands in the way.' I am proposing a change that aims to match hazardous substances requirements for university laboratories as well as science and technology laboratories with their actual risk. Current regulations require flammable substance laboratories to be on the ground floor. However, universities often place them on upper levels to improve fire safety and security, keeping evacuation routes clear and limiting access to hazardous materials. This approach, supported by Fire and Emergency New Zealand, does not align with how the regulations are currently written. 'I'm developing these changes to ensure they are practical and effectively support New Zealand's science and technology sector. This includes assessing whether the current laboratory design and hazardous substances storage requirements work for their laboratories. 'We'll be consulting directly with the university laboratories and science and technology laboratories. I intend to complete these changes by mid-2026.' Another key change already being consulted on aims to remove regulatory barriers to the development and use of hydrogen technologies. 'We're planning to update the rules to support the safe development and use of hydrogen technologies in a way that's flexible, future-proofed, and internationally aligned.' Officials have already conducted targeted consultation, and now we're opening it more widely to ensure all interested stakeholders have the opportunity to share their feedback. Because the current safety requirements were not developed with hydrogen in mind, they are now preventing the safe development and use of hydrogen technologies. Key changes being consulted on include: Enabling the use of hydrogen storage containers that are already in common use overseas. Establishing safety requirements for cryogenic liquid hydrogen. Introducing safety requirements for hydrogen filling stations and dispensers. 'Hydrogen technologies could transform sectors from transport to manufacturing, and these changes will help unlock that potential by removing regulatory barriers.' These changes support the Government's 2024 Hydrogen Action Plan by creating an enabling regulatory environment for hydrogen development while maintaining safety. The changes are expected to be completed by mid-2026. 'Once agreed, these updates will remove unnecessary complexity and ensure the regulatory system better supports scientific research and emerging technologies,' 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.' Notes: · 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:
Scoop
a day ago
- Business
- Scoop
Regulatory Relief For Manufacturing Sector
Hon Brooke van Velden Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety Minister for Regulation Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden is consulting with manufacturers, including wood processors, bakers, and millers to help businesses focus on managing genuine risks rather than navigating red tape. 'We're simplifying machine guarding rules and reviewing exposure standards to reduce complexity and improve consistency in the manufacturing sector,' says Ms van Velden. The proposed changes aim to ensure standards reflect real-world risks and align with international benchmarks. Manufacturers have said that the current rules are unclear and difficult to apply, leading to unnecessary costs and compliance burden. As an example of the law's confusion, a business owner told me they got conflicting advice from WorkSafe inspectors on identical machinery guarding in Auckland and Christchurch, deeming the same machine guarding to be compliant in one city but non-compliant in another city. 'During my nationwide consultation and roadshow, businesses described the law as full of grey areas, with outdated guidance that creates confusion and unnecessary cost. We're acting on that feedback, with changes designed to address the specific pain points raised.' One key change is the simplification of machine guarding rules, which support the safe use of machinery, in the Health and Safety in Employment Regulations. As an example of how out of date the machine guarding rules are, there are some in the meat industry who believe that machine guarding rules conflict with food safety cleaning requirements. We will be consulting on replacing the requirements with a more flexible, risk-based approach. WorkSafe guidance will continue to support businesses in applying appropriate controls. Although this will be a great help to the manufacturing sector, it will be beneficial for a range of sectors working with machinery including agriculture, horticulture, construction and food production. 'Feedback on machine guarding has highlighted the need for greater consistency when using machinery. These changes will enable businesses to use a wider range of tools while applying updated safety measures to keep their staff safe.' Wood processors and manufacturers also gave feedback that they feel constrained by Workplace Exposure Standards that don't reflect operational realities or international benchmarks. 'Many described the current approach as overly rigid and unclear, with one participant saying the standards are 'an overreaction to risk which will cripple the industry'.' The Workplace Exposure Standards for soft wood dust, hard wood dust, and welding fumes will be reviewed, with an aim to improve clarity and better align with international standards. 'Businesses expressed frustration that the wood dust standard is impractical and not based on realistic risk assessments. They want a system that is both protective and practical, and these changes aim to provide that.' WorkSafe will also look at updating the Workplace Exposure Standard for flour dust, which is designed to minimise the risk of respiratory problems. 'This is an example of the Red Tape Tipline making a difference, addressing regulations that increase the price of food,' says Mr Seymour. 'Concerned bakers made a submission to the Ministry for Regulation, raising concerns that the permitted concentration of flour dust was so stringent it would ruin their business. 'One commercial stakeholder said they had invested millions in retrofitted air conditioning units, purchasing new industrial vacuum cleaners, and additional controls in bakeries including deep cleaning, but it was still almost impossible to comply with the regulation. 'These costs eventually flow down to prices at the checkout. It's another example of how permissive regulations, no matter how small they might seem on paper, make a difference to the cost of everything in New Zealand. 'The review will consider international benchmarks and feasibility considerations, such as measurability. This will provide bakers and millers with more confidence that they have met safety standards, reducing the cost and stress of overcompliance and price of food,' says Mr Seymour. This review will be undertaken in consultation with those in the manufacturing sector over the coming months to ensure they are practical and effective. 'Simplifying machine guarding rules and reviewing the Workplace Exposure Standards will make it easier for people to do the right thing, without compromising safety,' 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.' Notes: 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:
Scoop
2 days ago
- 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:
Scoop
3 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Clearer Rules And Prequalification Guidance To Support Construction
Hon Brooke van Velden Minister of Workplace Relations and Safety As part of wider Government health and safety reforms, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden will be consulting with builders and construction professionals to improve productivity. 'We're simplifying scaffolding rules and streamlining the prequalification process to make them more practical and better aligned with the level of risk. 'I have heard concerns from the construction sector that scaffolding rules are too complex,' says Ms van Velden. The current rules have led to a common view that scaffolding should be used in all situations regardless of risk. This has resulted in the overuse of costly scaffolding when it isn't required for safety. 'Over-compliance needlessly drags down construction productivity, increasing building time and costs for the sector, and impacting new builds and Kiwi homeowners. "My officials will be consulting on proposed new rules that will let people choose safe options based on how dangerous the job is. Officials are currently refining options for a risk-based hierarchy of controls for work at heights (i.e. when to use ladders, harnesses, scaffolding) to test with industry,' says Ms van Velden. 'Changes will ensure scaffolding use is better aligned with the level of risk. If it's not very risky, they will not need to use expensive scaffolding. For example, they will be considering whether a ladder could be used instead of scaffolding for a simple roof gutter repair or minor electrical maintenance when working at height. 'I believe changes to scaffolding rules should help reduce costs and speed up work for tradies, construction firms, homeowners and anyone else who needs construction, painting, maintenance or other work done at height. 'One of the other common themes I heard on the roadshow was frustration with the wide range of prequalification systems and the time and money they take to complete. I have listened, which is why I am acting to help this sector. 'Businesses feel like they have to jump through hoops to tick a compliance box when getting prequalified, even though the prequalification often involves little reflection of the real-world risks workers face. Some have said they have walked away from clients as the cost of getting prequalified is not worth the value of the work. 'A lack of consistency across providers means that suppliers need to get a new prequalification for every job they tender for, with one submitter saying they completed 76 in a year. That's not a good use of anyone's time or money. 'I've asked WorkSafe to work with industry to revise its prequalification guidance, including developing free-to-use templates to improve national consistency.' There is also a need for clearer guidance on overlapping duties. This is when multiple businesses share responsibility for managing risks on the same site, such as when builders and drainlayers are both working on the same site and must work together to manage risks. 'I have asked WorkSafe to develop an Approved Code of Practice [ACOP] on clarifying overlapping duties, as the current ambiguity may be encouraging the over-use of prequalifications in situations where it is not necessary. Clearer guidance will help businesses understand when and how they need to work together to manage risks.' Work is also underway to update the scaffolding certificate of competence categories, with a review of certificate fees to follow. These certificates show what types of scaffolding work a person is qualified to carry out, from basic to more advanced scaffolding. 'Concerns have been raised about the distinction between qualifications and actual competency. Many feel that on-the-job experience should be better recognised. There's also confusion about what constitutes sufficient training, and frustration with inconsistent advice from regulators. 'After consultation, I will be seeking Cabinet approval to update the categories and fees to ensure they better reflect current costs and industry best practice. 'I am confident that these changes, which are designed to address the concerns of the construction sector, will support safe and more efficient practices,' 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.' Notes: 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. Prequalification is a common way construction businesses check if a company or contractor is ready and able to do a construction job safely, before they're allowed to bid for or start work. Prequalifications are also often used by businesses outside of the construction sector – for example, local councils using them for groundskeeping tenders. However, prequalifications are most prominently used in the construction industry. A summary of all the changes and major milestones: Amend the Health and Safety in Employment Regulations to simplify the scaffolding rule for construction, including the general work at height 3-metre rule. Targeted stakeholder consultation July - Sept 2025 Cabinet decisions in November/December Commencement mid 2026 Amend the Health and Safety in Employment Regs to update the fee for scaffolding certificates of competence. Targeted stakeholder consultation July - Dec 2025 Cabinet decisions in March 2026 Commencement mid 2026 Amend the Health and Safety in Employment Regulations to update the scaffolding certificate of competence definitions Cabinet LEG decisions Aug Commencement Sep 2025 WorkSafe will work with the industry to revise prequalification guidance and clarify overlapping duties by developing a construction roles and responsibilities ACOP. Targeted stakeholder consultation Aug - Sep 2025 Develop guidance and ACOP Oct 2025 – April 2026
Scoop
15-07-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Employment Relations Amendment Bill Passes First Reading
Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden welcomes the successful first reading of the Employment Relations Amendment Bill, calling it a major milestone in helping businesses employ and contract with confidence. The Employment Relations Amendment Bill will now be considered by the Education and Workforce Select Committee where people can have their say on the proposed changes. 'This Bill reflects the Government's commitment to supporting New Zealand businesses and creating more and better opportunities for workers.' The legislation delivers on key commitments from the ACT–National Coalition Agreement, including: Clarifying the distinction between employment and contracting arrangements, giving greater certainty to both businesses and workers. Simplifying the personal grievance process, including the introduction of an income threshold of $180,000, above which unjustified dismissal claims cannot be pursued. This Bill also proposes removing the 30-day rule, allowing employers and employees to negotiate mutually beneficial terms from the start of employment, reducing compliance burden and increasing flexibility. 'I encourage all interested New Zealanders to have their say on the Bill, and I see the Select Committee process as an important way of strengthening the final Bill and making sure it works for a wide variety of working relationships and situations. 'I am particularly interested in hearing feedback on whether the gateway test criteria are workable and whether the test covers a variety of genuine contracting relationships. I am also interested in hearing feedback on the high-income threshold for personal grievances, both from those who may use it as an employer and those who would be affected as a worker. 'I am looking forward to hearing what New Zealanders have to say about the Bill during the Select Committee process,' says Ms van Velden. Notes:
