Warning of more HSAW Act prosecutions due to procrastination

Safety Director warns of more prosecutions under the HSAW Act as result of procrastination driven by fear and ignorance.

Platinum Safety Director Zeb Reid urges business to act on advice from Worksafe NZ and seek qualified advice.

Recent prosecutions by Worksafe NZ and media articles calling for caution when acting under the HSAW Act 2015 have the odor of fear and ignorance about them.

It is time we put aside procrastination based on fear and ignorance about the new HSAW Act and embrace the spirit of the Act.

After all the new Law is born of the embarrassingly tragic events which unfolded at the Pike River Mine and subsequent explosion that took 29 lives.

Proceeding this national tragedy is a legacy of injury, disability and fatality which continued even under the 1993 H&S Act.

Even “our brash cousins across the ditch” have collectively accepted that going home from work is the new norm and not a “lottery ticket” in working life.

WorkSafe NZ recently published a very useful media release aimed at Farmers detailing what questions to ask when looking for Health & Safety advice.

It’s great advice. No matter what industry you are in.
Use the advice as a starting point.

Do something. Start somewhere.

It is clear that an example will be made of PCBU’s and their Officers with fines increasing dramatically and judges being less tolerant of inaction.

Business owners, directors and managers have no excuse for failing to take “practicable steps”, especially in this information rich age we live in.

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