Step By Step to Safe Workplaces

Media statement May 22, 2013

Step By Step to Safe Workplaces

New Zealand's need for guidelines for directors to ensure their companies have suitable health and safety measures in place is sad, but the message overall is positive, said Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA) manager of occupational health and safety (OH&S), Paul Jarvie.

Speaking at this week's launch of the directors' guidelines document, "Good Governance Practices Guideline for Managing Health and Safety Risks", Mr Jarvie said, "After all, anything that improves safety is a positive activity.

"The Guideline document, if used, will create a level of governance not seen before in New Zealand.

"The intention is for positive and concerted action by directors and those who govern workplaces.

"The Guideline document will assist those directors using it to ask the right questions and at the same time to provide options for interventions in workplaces. It is another tool in their toolbox.

"Directors should not feel threatened by this Guideline. But they will need to demonstrate the level of intervention required in relation to the particular risk profile of the business where they govern.

"The EMA welcomes the document and will be promoting it to our members. We are already taking calls from member companies inquiring about this topic and have seen boards and directors making changes.

"With this document, plus the recommended changes from the Independent Taskforce on Workplace Health & Safety, there will be a sea-change in the way we manage health and safety in New Zealand.

"Put simply, the world has changed and with that, requirements have changed at all levels of business," Mr Jarvie says.

ENDS

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