Industrial Safety News

04/02/2024

With the labour market becoming more competitive, employers are turning to anthropologists to create an optimum environment for employee attraction and retention, says corporate anthropologist Michael Henderson Historically, New Zealand has lagged behind international trends in the use of human scientists from this field, but this is now changing - with demand growing rapidly since the pandemic. New Zealand businesses are increasingly turning to anthropologists to address systemic workplace cultural issues or help navigate periods of change....

With the labour market becoming more competitive, employers are turning to anthropologists to create an optimum environment for employee attraction and retention, says corporate anthropologist Michael Henderson Historically, New Zealand has lagged behind international trends in the use of human scie...

04/02/2024

WorkSafe New Zealand is calling on the construction sector to "up its game" after a teenager was killed just four months into his apprenticeship Ethan Perham-Turner was killed when timber framing weighing 350 kilograms fell on him at a residential building site in Ōmokoroa in March 2022. The 19-year-old was just four months into an apprenticeship with Inspire Building Limited at the time....

WorkSafe New Zealand is calling on the construction sector to “up its game” after a teenager was killed just four months into his apprenticeship Ethan Perham-Turner was killed when timber framing weighing 350 kilograms fell on him at a residential building site in Ōmokoroa in March 2022. Contin...

30/01/2024

For many people, career advancement does not always mean climbing the corporate ladder, a Randstad report finds To be seen as aspirational places to work, Randstad Chief Executive Sander van ‘t Noordende says employers need to embrace the idea of working in much closer partnership with talent, not only by developing their careers but also by building equitable workplaces where workers feel they belong....

For many people, career advancement does not always mean climbing the corporate ladder, a Randstad report finds To be seen as aspirational places to work, Randstad Chief Executive Sander van ‘t Noordende says employers need to embrace the idea of working in much closer partnership with talent, not...

30/01/2024

Stratford Logging's operator has been sentenced for repeatedly and unapologetically cutting corners to save a dollar Kevin Howard Stratford, who operates Stratford Logging, was convicted in the Nelson District Court and fined $56,000. Over the course of 2021 Mr Stratford carried out tree felling in Takaka Hill at a site directly adjacent to State Highway 60. WorkSafe was notified in August 2021 by an experienced tree feller that the work was being carried out with disregard for industry standards, in particular that trees were being felled very close to the road with no traffic management in place....

Stratford Logging’s operator has been sentenced for repeatedly and unapologetically cutting corners to save a dollar Kevin Howard Stratford, who operates Stratford Logging, was convicted in the Nelson District Court and fined $56,000. Continue →

23/01/2024

Safe Work Australia has published a model Code of Practice which will serve New Zealand operators well The model code provides practical guidance for persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) on how to eliminate or minimise the risk of sexual and gender-based harassment at work so far as is reasonably practicable. PCBUs must take a proactive, consultative and preventative approach to sexual and gender-based harassment whether it comes from colleagues, customers or the public, online or in person....

Safe Work Australia has published a model Code of Practice which will serve New Zealand operators well The model code provides practical guidance for persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) on how to eliminate or minimise the risk of sexual and gender-based harassment at work so far as....

23/01/2024

A world-first innovative hydraulic safety function block has been successfully trialled in New Zealand, with the potential to improve machine safety across several industries Safety engineering team TEG Risk has taken the helm in collaboration with Fluid Power Solutions to spearhead a pioneering safety solution for Sanford, a New Zealand-based fisheries operator. Lead Engineer on the project Charles Webb designed a unique safety solution that not only ameliorates safety concerns for Sanford - but could also lead to greater safety outcomes for different fleets across Australasia. ...

A world-first innovative hydraulic safety function block has been successfully trialled in New Zealand, with the potential to improve machine safety across several industries Safety engineering team TEG Risk has taken the helm in collaboration with Fluid Power Solutions to spearhead a pioneering saf...

15/01/2024

Extremely poor on-site safety has been deemed the cause of an incident which nearly buried a worker alive, leaving him injured both physically and mentally Two workers were on a job at a farm near Te Kuiti in February 2021. One was operating a digger and the other was doing measurements inside a trench, which was three metres deep and two metres wide....

Extremely poor on-site safety has been deemed the cause of an incident which nearly buried a worker alive, leaving him injured both physically and mentally Two workers were on a job at a farm near Te Kuiti in February 2021. Continue →

15/01/2024

When there is no obvious safe way to work, it's best to stop, reassess, and involve experts to develop a new approach – rather than attempting to adapt things on the fly, says WorkSafe’s area investigation manager, Danielle Henry The death of a 21-year-old in the construction sector shows how easily stopgap measures can endanger workers. Aidan Paszczuk was removing steel beams when one fell and killed him at a Newmarket construction site in October 2021....

When there is no obvious safe way to work, it’s best to stop, reassess, and involve experts to develop a new approach – rather than attempting to adapt things on the fly, says WorkSafe’s area investigation manager, Danielle Henry The death of a 21-year-old in the construction sector shows how ...

19/12/2023

A workplace has been fined $7,000 after allowing an underage driver to get behind the wheel of an unsafe forklift whilst a young boy was left unsupervised When childcare fell through, the boy was taken to the orchard in January 2022 by his grandparents who worked there. He was told to stay inside the packhouse on a couch. Unfortunately, he wandered from that spot and into the path of a reversing forklift being driven by a 14-year-old worker....

A workplace has been fined $7,000 after allowing an underage driver to get behind the wheel of an unsafe forklift whilst a young boy was left unsupervised When childcare fell through, the boy was taken to the orchard in January 2022 by his grandparents who worked there. Continue →

19/12/2023

Funding has been awarded to further develop an 'AI guardian angel' that makes roadworks safer for workers and road users RUSH, a pioneering New Zealand technology company, together with Downer’s Transport & Infrastructure, has been awarded funding in the second round of the Waka Kotahi Hoe ki angitū - Innovation Fund to further develop the technology. Using the R/VISION platform developed by RUSH and piloted in collaboration with Downer in 2021, the project uses computer vision machine learning - a specialised field of artificial intelligence that trains computers to interpret and understand visual information from the world around them....

Funding has been awarded to further develop an ‘AI guardian angel’ that makes roadworks safer for workers and road users RUSH, a pioneering New Zealand technology company, together with Downer’s Transport & Infrastructure, has been awarded funding in the second round of the Waka Kotahi Hoe ki ...

12/12/2023

The Commerce Commission has filed criminal charges against two construction companies and two directors for alleged bid rigging of publicly funded construction contracts The charges follow a Commission investigation into allegations that the companies and their directors colluded to rig bids for infrastructure projects in Auckland. It is the country’s first-ever criminal prosecution for cartel conduct. Commerce Commission Chair, John Small, says the criminal proceedings filed in the Auckland District Court send a strong message to businesses that the Commission will not tolerate cartel conduct, and is prepared to lay criminal charges to enforce the law....

The Commerce Commission has filed criminal charges against two construction companies and two directors for alleged bid rigging of publicly funded construction contracts The charges follow a Commission investigation into allegations that the companies and their directors colluded to rig bids for inf...

12/12/2023

Asbestos remains the country’s number one work-related killer, with about 220 people dying each year from preventable asbestos-related disease Two recent court cases serve as a reminder to tradies and businesses of the dangers, and how to manage the risks of the known carcinogen. The latest WorkSafe prosecution involves Wilson Building Timaru Limited. The company was fined for the unauthorised removal of asbestos by the company director, which put workers at high risk of asbestos exposure over several days....

Asbestos remains the country’s number one work-related killer, with about 220 people dying each year from preventable asbestos-related disease Two recent court cases serve as a reminder to tradies and businesses of the dangers, and how to manage the risks of the known carcinogen. Continue →

08/12/2023

The newly elected Government intends to re-introduce 90-day employment trial periods, but is this a good and commercially safe way for employers to take on new personnel? 90-day trial periods have been in place previously for employers to assess new employees for suitability. They give new employees the opportunity to prove themselves, their skills, experience, and other attributes. For the 564,000 small to medium sized enterprise (SME) businesses that employ twenty or less employees and represent 97% of businesses in NZ, the implementation of the 90-day trial period can be a challenge....

The newly elected Government intends to re-introduce 90-day employment trial periods, but is this a good and commercially safe way for employers to take on new personnel? Continue →

08/12/2023

It beggars belief that WorkSafe will do a better job with such a significant decrease to staffing resource, New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (NZCTU) Secretary Melissa Ansell-Bridges says Axing 113 jobs at the health and safety regulator isn’t the right decision for the health and safety system in New Zealand. Maintaining the level of inspectors is important but that is only one of WorkSafe’s core functions and their ability to be an effective inspectorate is supported by other important functions in the organisation which are now being lost....

It beggars belief that WorkSafe will do a better job with such a significant decrease to staffing resource, New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (NZCTU) Secretary Melissa Ansell-Bridges says Axing 113 jobs at the health and safety regulator isn’t the right decision for the health and safety system ...

05/12/2023

Fair Pay Agreements (FPAs), a system for employment terms and conditions to be negotiated across entire industries and occupations, are set to be scrapped by the new Government against official advice A cabinet consultation paper leaked to the media shows the incoming Government is disregarding the negative impact of repealing Fair Pay Agreements, and the advice of their own officials, the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (NZCTU) says....

Fair Pay Agreements (FPAs), a system for employment terms and conditions to be negotiated across entire industries and occupations, are set to be scrapped by the new Government against official advice A cabinet consultation paper leaked to the media shows the incoming Government is disregarding the....

05/12/2023

With December marking the start of summer in Aotearoa New Zealand, it's important to be aware of the extra health and safety hazards that come with working outside. Here are some tips to help you work smarter over the coming summer months. Sun safety When working in the summer, it’s important to protect yourself from over exposure of sun and UV-rays, which can cause painful sunburn and potentially lead to skin cancer. ...

With December marking the start of summer in Aotearoa New Zealand, it’s important to be aware of the extra health and safety hazards that come with working outside. Continue →

05/12/2023

The early opening of the impressive Taparahi viaduct over the landslide cutting the main access to Coromandel East Coast communities, is an extremely welcome acknowledgement of the professional engineering and construction expertise successfully bridging the massive, unstable subsidence. It is also a timely example of what can be achieved with a commitment to short circuiting red tape, re- purposing critical bridging components from other sites and deploying skilled workers in 24/7 hour shifts, completing an estimated 14-month task in just under seven months and almost 15% under the $50m budget....

The early opening of the impressive Taparahi viaduct over the landslide cutting the main access to Coromandel East Coast communities, is an extremely welcome acknowledgement of the professional engineering and construction expertise successfully bridging the massive, unstable subsidence. Continue ....

28/11/2023

WorkSafe is seeking feedback on new health and safety guidelines for PCBUs (persons conducting a business or undertaking) that aim to describe, in plain language, the psychosocial risks at work and what mentally healthy work is The audience for the guidelines is PCBUs, who are required to provide and maintain a work environment that is without risks to safety and health, so far as is reasonably practicable....

WorkSafe is seeking feedback on new health and safety guidelines for PCBUs (persons conducting a business or undertaking) that aim to describe, in plain language, the psychosocial risks at work and what mentally healthy work is The audience for the guidelines is PCBUs, who are required to provide an...

26/11/2023

A worker suffered laceration to their palm and loss of two of fingertips as a result of inadequate training, WorkSafe has found, which has entered into an Enforceable Undertaking with the worker's employer WorkSafe New Zealand says an incident where a worker was seriously injured underlines the importance of training staff to keep them safe. On 15 November 2021 a staff member with the Auckland International Airport Limited (AIAL) wildlife team was monitoring geese near the airport’s runways....

A worker suffered laceration to their palm and loss of two of fingertips as a result of inadequate training, WorkSafe has found, which has entered into an Enforceable Undertaking with the worker’s employer WorkSafe New Zealand says an incident where a worker was seriously injured underlines the im...

21/11/2023

Recent global events have raised critical questions around the health and safety risks associated with moving hazardous materials, writes John Sanders, Senior Program Manager at US technical solutions company ABS Group For decades, industry has moved along in the background of public life. Companies and regulators have worked behind the scenes to ensure that hazardous—but critical—materials got from point A to point B safe, intact, and on-time to keep our cities and towns moving....

Recent global events have raised critical questions around the health and safety risks associated with moving hazardous materials, writes John Sanders, Senior Program Manager at US technical solutions company ABS Group For decades, industry has moved along in the background of public life. Continue....

21/11/2023

Businesses have an obligation to keep people safe around vehicles in the workplace, says WorkSafe New Zealand following the sentencing of a Southland business McLellan Freight Limited was contracted to load and unload palm kernel extract at a warehouse leased from South Port in Bluff. In turn, McLellan Freight contracted trucks and drivers from Transport Services Southland Limited and Herberts Transport Limited....

14/11/2023

Home-based work has many benefits but also some unique challenges - Porch's Denisse Garcia explores what you can do to combat those challenges, and find work-life balance The term “burnout” has been thrown around workplaces for years, but what does it actually mean? According to Psychology Today, “Burnout is a state of emotional, mental, and often physical exhaustion brought on by prolonged or repeated stress.”...

Home-based work has many benefits but also some unique challenges – Porch’s Denisse Garcia explores what you can do to combat those challenges, and find work-life balance The term “burnout” has been thrown around workplaces for years, but what does it actually mean? Continue →

14/11/2023

An electric shock which cost an Auckland scaffolder both his arms could have been avoided if his employer had paid closer attention to who was authorised to do the work Jahden Nelson was dismantling scaffolding in April 2022, when a steel pole he was holding contacted an overhead powerline in the West Auckland suburb of Massey. As a result of the incident, Jahden received high voltage electrical burns to his upper and lower limbs, including an exit wound of the electrical charge through his left foot....

An electric shock which cost an Auckland scaffolder both his arms could have been avoided if his employer had paid closer attention to who was authorised to do the work Jahden Nelson was dismantling scaffolding in April 2022, when a steel pole he was holding contacted an overhead powerline in the We...

07/11/2023

In a survey conducted by global technology company Genetec, nearly a third of end-user respondents said their organisations were targeted by cyber threats Based on insights from over 5,500 physical security leaders from around the world, the research shows that while organisations are putting in place new processes to protect themselves, the level of concern about potential cyber threats continues to increase....

In a survey conducted by global technology company Genetec, nearly a third of end-user respondents said their organisations were targeted by cyber threats Based on insights from over 5,500 physical security leaders from around the world, the research shows that while organisations are putting in pla...

07/11/2023

WorkSafe is warning businesses of the catastrophic consequences that can result from failing to undertake routine safety checks on trailers This follows the death of 52-year-old Julian Bruins Yates, whose van was struck when a trailer detached from a work vehicle in October 2020 on Weka Pass Road in Canterbury. Ultimate Design and Renovation (UDR) Limited, which owned the A-frame trailer and tow vehicle, and its operational arm ABC Aluminium Limited, have now been sentenced for health and safety failures....

WorkSafe is warning businesses of the catastrophic consequences that can result from failing to undertake routine safety checks on trailers This follows the death of 52-year-old Julian Bruins Yates, whose van was struck when a trailer detached from a work vehicle in October 2020 on Weka Pass Road in...

31/10/2023

Following union protests over engineered stone and its association with silicosis, a debilitating and potentially fatal disease, Safe Work Australia is recommending the government prohibits its use Safe Work Australia has published the Decision Regulation Impact Statement: Prohibition on the use of engineered stone (Decision RIS). It comes after protests were held by the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) there, calling for the ban of engineered stone....

Following union protests over engineered stone and its association with silicosis, a debilitating and potentially fatal disease, Safe Work Australia is recommending the government prohibits its use Safe Work Australia has published the Decision Regulation Impact Statement: Prohibition on the use of....

29/10/2023

There is more than just the Health and Safety at Work (Hazardous Substances) Regulations to consider when it comes to hazardous substances and who they can be supplied to, Chemsafety Senior Hazardous Substances Specialist Janet Connochie says We have seen recent activity from the EPA about hazardous substances that are only permitted to be supplied to workplaces. At workplaces you would be forgiven for thinking that the Health and Safety at Work (Hazardous Substances) Regulations – HSW(HS) are all that you need to consider, but for suppliers that is not the case....

There is more than just the Health and Safety at Work (Hazardous Substances) Regulations to consider when it comes to hazardous substances and who they can be supplied to, Chemsafety Senior Hazardous Substances Specialist Janet Connochie says We have seen recent activity from the EPA about hazardous...

23/10/2023

Safety-conscious organisations from New Zealand and Australia have been recognised for working hard to reduce incidents involving at-work drivers and vehicles during the ninth annual Australasian Fleet Champions Awards The awards, run by Brake, the road safety charity and supported by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, acknowledge companies and individuals who have implemented successful initiatives, products or services to tackle fleet safety....

Safety-conscious organisations from New Zealand and Australia have been recognised for working hard to reduce incidents involving at-work drivers and vehicles during the ninth annual Australasian Fleet Champions Awards The awards, run by Brake, the road safety charity and supported by Waka Kotahi NZ...

23/10/2023

Dunlop Drymix Limited has been fined $297,000 for its health and safety shortfalls, notably its failure to have a working emergency stop switch for dangerous machinery WorkSafe New Zealand is again warning businesses to be on alert for the dangers of moving machinery, after a worker had his arm amputated on the job at a concrete manufacturer in Manawatū. The victim was working at Dunlop Drymix Limited in Feilding early one morning in November 2021....

Dunlop Drymix Limited has been fined $297,000 for its health and safety shortfalls, notably its failure to have a working emergency stop switch for dangerous machinery WorkSafe New Zealand is again warning businesses to be on alert for the dangers of moving machinery, after a worker had his arm ampu...

17/10/2023

The importance of correct bearing installation is paramount in industrial machinery, particularly where it is subject to arduous and continuous use in demanding industries, says John Bucknell, Founder and Chief Executive of hydraulic tensioning specialist Technofast Food, beverage, primary processing, timber, sugar, mining, energy, and oil and gas – these are all industries which cannot afford the downtime caused by 16 per cent of all bearing failures, which specifiers attribute to incorrect installation....

The importance of correct bearing installation is paramount in industrial machinery, particularly where it is subject to arduous and continuous use in demanding industries, says John Bucknell, Founder and Chief Executive of hydraulic tensioning specialist Technofast Food, beverage, primary processin...