PERFORMANCE

OUR PERFORMANCE STORY 2015
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EMPLOYEES PARTICIPATING IN
HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK
Workplaces are likely to be safer when workers
know how to keep themselves and their colleagues
safe and can actively participate in health and
safety arrangements at their work. In 2014/15
we began to develop a worker participation
implementation strategy in support of the new
Health and Safety at Work Act. Formal systems of
employee participation are required by the Health
and Safety in Employment Act 1992 (the HSE Act)
in large workplaces, and in small workplaces if
requested by staff. In the 2014/15 National Survey
of Employers, 48% of employers reported that
their businesses had formal systems for employee
participation, similar to the 2013/14 result and
slightly lower than in 2012/13. Informal employee
participation is also important. Around half of the
respondents to both the 2014/15 Health and Safety
Attitudes and Behaviours Survey and the National
Survey of Employers indicated that health and
safety was discussed at regular team meetings
at their work.
“ New Zealand needs to empower
workers within their workplaces
with rights, training, and support.
No official can be there all of the
time but workers are capable of
being the safety leaders
if they are supported.”
Helen Kelly, President of the
New Zealand Council of Trade
Unions, in the July/August 2015
Safeguard magazine.
Employers and workers were asked in the Health
and Safety Attitudes and Behaviours Survey how
often they would discuss things that put health
and safety at risk (eg near misses or accidents) in
an open and helpful way. Employers were more
optimistic, with 52% saying always, whereas 41%
of workers said they always discussed these risks.
We seek increases in 2015/16, supported by the
new Act.
STRENGTHENING GOVERNMENT
ACCOUNTABILITY AND
LEADERSHIP
We have been engaging with public sector
agencies to support government leadership on
workplace health and safety. This will help agencies
to be prepared to implement the health and
safety reforms and have appropriate support. We
have prioritised agencies according to risk, giving
intensive support to agencies whose activities are
predominantly high risk (eg emergency services).
We have also been working with public sector
chief executives and their leadership teams on the
roles that they will need to play in implementing
the health and safety reforms. Discussions have
started with the State Services Commission,
MBIE, New Zealand Security Intelligence Service,
New Zealand Defence Force, New Zealand Police,
and New Zealand Public Service Association.
Information is being shared about how agencies
can manage risk without compromising their
service obligations, and manage overlapping
responsibilities.
IMPROVED CO-ORDINATION
BETWEEN AGENCIES: BETTER
COVERAGE AND REDUCING
DUPLICATION
WorkSafe is one of several agencies operating
in the health and safety system. Other primary
agencies are: MBIE; ACC, which has a joint interest
in injury prevention and functions and programmes