New Workplace Safety Measures Implemented

Media Release

New Workplace Safety Measures Implemented

With dozens of workplace deaths every year, new health and safety laws aim to reduce actual workplace harm rather than just focusing on trivial hazards.

The Health and Safety at Work Act was drawn up in response to the Pike River Coal Mine tragedy to ensure safer workplaces and took effect on 4 April. OneStaff has implemented key features aimed at making health and safety less onerous, more effective and flexible.

OneStaff Director Scott Brittenden said the new regime represents a change in mind-set for workplace safety.

“It changes the focus from being about just the physical workplace to the actual conduct of work. It’s what the business actually does and what it can control,” Brittenden said.

Brittenden says safety is paramount particularly when it comes to inducting new or temporary workers into the workforce. OneStaff workers are shown a general health and safety video before undergoing site-specific inductions at the site they are stationed at.

“We work with our clients to ensure all of our temporary workers are given full Toolbox Talks onsite and also attend all regular permanent employee health and safety briefings,” Brittenden said.

“We have even designed an infographic which illustrates the safety training steps workers must go through. We teach them the 3-C’s which are consult, co-operate and communicate,” Brittenden said.

The Health and Safety at Work Act establishes a new legal entity called a “Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking” (PCBU) which can be a business, organisation or individual doing business. A PCBU must take “reasonable practicable” measures to ensure the health and safety of everyone in the workplace including visitors and volunteers. Considerations about the likelihood of an accident, the harm it could cause, the awareness of workers and the ability to mitigate risk must all be considered.

The law also aims to have company directors and influencers more actively involved in making sure their businesses follow proper health and safety procedures. Under the new measures, some company leaders have been designated as “Officers” and are responsible for working with PCBU’s to ensure workplace safety. But the focus of the legislation is on personal responsibility.

“While the PCBU must do what they can to ensure worker safety, at the end of the day, each individual’s safety still comes down to them,” Brittenden said.

It is expected the new measures will reduce injuries and deaths in the workplace by 25 per cent by 2020.

ENDS

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