22 May 2014

Minister welcomes release of health and safety regulations discussion document

Labour Minister Simon Bridges welcomes the release today of a discussion document outlining proposals for new health and safety regulations, which will help people to comply with the new health and safety legislative regime when it comes into force next year.

“Regulations remove the guesswork about what is needed to meet duties under the law. This helps avoid unnecessary compliance costs that could arise from doing too much or too little,” Mr Bridges says.

“Submissions to the Independent Taskforce on Workplace Health and Safety identified that the current framework is not sufficiently supported by regulations and guidance to make it as effective as intended. The proposals released today help to address these concerns.

The proposals cover five key areas:

• General risk and workplace management

• Worker participation, engagement and representation

• Work involving asbestos

• Work involving hazardous substances; and

• Major hazard facilities.

The regulations will sit under the new Health and Safety at Work Act when it comes into force.

Mr Bridges says the release of the discussion document is a significant next step in delivering on the Government’s Working Safer package, which represents the biggest reform of New Zealand’s workplace health and safety system in 20 years.
“Working Safer will play a major role in helping us meet our target of reducing New Zealand’s workplace injury and death toll by 25 percent by 2020.”
The full discussion document is available on the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment website at http://www.mbie.govt.nz/about-us/consultation/development-of-regulations-to-support-the-new-health-and-safety-at-work-act

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