Leaders’ Forum welcomes release of safety guidance

20 May 2013

Leaders’ Forum welcomes release of safety guidance for Directors

It’s time for directors to step up and play a much more active role in leading health and safety in their companies, the Business Leaders’ Health and Safety Forum says, following the release of new safety guidelines for directors.

“We welcome the release of the Good Governance Practices Guideline for Managing Health and Safety Risks,” says Forum Executive Director Julian Hughes.

“These guidelines provide practical support to help directors meet their moral and legal responsibilities to keep people safe at work,” Mr Hughes says.

“Pike River showed us what can happen if the people leading an organisation don’t ask the right questions or take enough action on health and safety.

“Let’s hope these guidelines mark a turning point for New Zealand directors, by helping them lift their game when it comes to governing on health and safety.”

Mr Hughes said the Forum encouraged directors to take the initiative and to start implementing the guidance in their boardroom.

The guidelines were produced by the Institute of Directors and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. The Forum was one of a number of employer and employee groups that contributed to their development.

About the Forum
The Business Leaders’ Health and Safety Forum is a coalition of business leaders committed to improving workplace health and safety in New Zealand. Our vision is to have all business leaders passionately committed to achieving Zero Harm Workplaces.

Our focus is to make workplaces safer by growing world-class CEO safety leadership, and by leveraging the combined skill, influence and resources of members. The Forum was launched in 2010 by Prime Minister John Key and has more than 100 members who are CEOs or Managing Directors of significant New Zealand companies.

ENDS

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