One industry expert offers his advice to employers on preparing for the upcoming changes.
The new Health and Safety at Work Act comes into force on 4 April 2016. In this first quarter of 2016 we expect businesses to continue to be busy preparing for the changes. For many, the gap analysis that underpins the assessment of whether their business is ready for the new regime has been completed, and the process of importing new processes and systems to plug any gaps identified.
For others, the gap analysis will form an early work stream for 2016. We expect to see businesses looking at the suitability of their current systems and continuing to refine them so as to keep people safe at work. Systems and processes that facilitate and promote sharing information relevant to health and safety will also be a focus.
Following the implementation of Australia’s health and safety regime in 2011, it was observed that the regulator was initially in education mode. It took time to meet with industry groups and launch safety campaigns in high risk industries for example. Only after this initial education phase did the regulator appear to shift gears by initiating more prosecutions. This was particularly noticeable in relation to incidents at the lower end of the scale.
However, here in New Zealand, there is no expectation of a grace period. This is due to the fact that it is more than 5 years since the Pike River Mining Disaster, draft legislation was first introduced in March 2014, and Worksafe was established and has been active since December 2013.
Making sure you’re prepared
To help your organisation get ready for the changes the John O’Rourke*, and the Health & Safety team at Minter Ellison Rudd Watts have prepared 10 key questions that you may want to consider. These questions are designed to help inform your thinking and to quickly help you see if you have any gaps in what you currently have in place. You can read these questions here.
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John O’Rourke from MinterEllisonRuddWatts is a health and safety specialist with Australian and NZ experience. John helps Boards and senior leadership teams drive best practice in H&S Governance, and develops reporting regimes to meet the new due diligence requirements.
For others, the gap analysis will form an early work stream for 2016. We expect to see businesses looking at the suitability of their current systems and continuing to refine them so as to keep people safe at work. Systems and processes that facilitate and promote sharing information relevant to health and safety will also be a focus.
- Ongoing monitoring
- Collaboration
- WorkSafe’s approach
Following the implementation of Australia’s health and safety regime in 2011, it was observed that the regulator was initially in education mode. It took time to meet with industry groups and launch safety campaigns in high risk industries for example. Only after this initial education phase did the regulator appear to shift gears by initiating more prosecutions. This was particularly noticeable in relation to incidents at the lower end of the scale.
However, here in New Zealand, there is no expectation of a grace period. This is due to the fact that it is more than 5 years since the Pike River Mining Disaster, draft legislation was first introduced in March 2014, and Worksafe was established and has been active since December 2013.
Making sure you’re prepared
To help your organisation get ready for the changes the John O’Rourke*, and the Health & Safety team at Minter Ellison Rudd Watts have prepared 10 key questions that you may want to consider. These questions are designed to help inform your thinking and to quickly help you see if you have any gaps in what you currently have in place. You can read these questions here.
More like this:
“Engagement and culture are not HR issues.”
Heart-warming HR: Top retailer recruits red-handed thief
HR firm offers unusual pet-bereavement perk
John O’Rourke from MinterEllisonRuddWatts is a health and safety specialist with Australian and NZ experience. John helps Boards and senior leadership teams drive best practice in H&S Governance, and develops reporting regimes to meet the new due diligence requirements.