Smart Growth Day Good safety, good business

Labour Minister Margaret Wilson will today visit New Zealand Steel at Glenbrook in recognition of the company’s commitment to improving its health and safety record.

New Zealand Steel recently achieved its own new record of 200 days of operation without an employee or contractor missing work due to workplace injury. That’s approximately 1.7 million hours of operation without injuries.

The steel mill made a conscious decision to improve its health and safety performance back in 1993. Back then, about 150 employees per year were injured seriously enough as to be unable to work their next shift.

The rate of such injuries has now dropped to five per year.

Margaret Wilson said the company was an example of how good safety practices contribute to good business.

“This sustained performance in health and safety has been achieved though a successful participation system where everybody works together to keep each other safe, by striving for zero harm and by focussing on safe systems.”

New Zealand Steel, which has 1250 staff, is New Zealand’s only producer of steel from raw materials.

Ministers and Government MPs are today visiting more than 50 businesses, schools and skills training organisations to see growth and innovation at work. The 15 May budget will contain additional measures to support smart growth and sustainable development, promote the commercialisation of good ideas and initiatives to upskill New Zealanders.

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