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Beef + Lamb NZ Pleased with Health And Safety Changes

27 JULY 2015

Beef + Lamb New Zealand Pleased with Health And Safety Changes


Beef + Lamb New Zealand says key changes to the health and safety reform bill relating to the rural sector, released on Friday, go a long way to clarifying the responsibilities of farmers towards employees and visitors to their farms.

Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) chairman, James Parsons said the organisation, jointly with Federated Farmers and DairyNZ, had been vocal on behalf of farmers in advocating for sensible rules. It was good to see the transport and industrial relations select committee process working and acknowledging farmer concerns, he said.

“While farmers are generally welcoming to visitors to their farms, the proposed health and safety regime was threatening to expose them to significant liability for events outside their control. It is now clear that recreational users coming on to farm land are responsible for their own safety. This includes duck shooters, hunters, mountain bikers, anglers and so on.

“The changes also recognise that the family home is excluded as part of the workplace. These changes recognise the unique features of farms as workplaces and homes for rural families, and apply good common sense to the issue of improving safety on farm.”

Parsons said the members of the select committee were to be congratulated for taking the time to understand the issues and come up with a pragmatic response.

“There are still a number of issues that need to be resolved to further clarify responsibilities and to improve on-farm safety while taking into account the practicalities of modern day farming. We will keep working with government and officials to seek a workable outcome,” Parsons said.

“Some of these aspects fall within the regulations as opposed to the legislation. Passengers being carried safely on quad bikes are one such area which we still haven’t resolved with WorkSafe. So it is important that farmers continue to make their views known as the regulations are being drafted up.”


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