WorkSafe releases interpretative guidelines on worker representation
June 2016
WorkSafe New Zealand has published guidelines that explain the requirements for worker representation under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and the Health and Safety at Work (Worker Engagement, Participation, and Representation) Regulations 2016 .
The guidelines have two parts. Part A covers Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs) and Part B covers Health and Safety Committees (HSCs). They should be read in conjunction with the Act and the Regulations.
The guidelines include links to the relevant clauses and sections (and page numbers for people reading a PDF version of the legislation).
Here you can read the guidelines .
New health and safety guidance
31 March 2016
WorkSafe releases new guidance
WorkSafe New Zealand has released a suite of guidance to help you understand the new health and safety legislation and stay healthy and safe at work. There is more guidance to come, so keep checking WorkSafe’s website for the latest information.
Practical guide for school leaders now available
The health and safety practical guide for school leaders and board chairs is now available. Find out more about the practical guide .
The guide provides useful information to help schools develop their health and safety plans, and complements the Ministry of Education’s already published factsheets .
It includes clear explanations of the requirements, example policies, procedures and checklists.
Guide for early learning organisations coming soon
The draft health and safety guide for early learning organisations is being reviewed by WorkSafe New Zealand. We hope to publish it on the factsheet page in the coming weeks.
Practical Guidance for the sector coming soon
January 2016
We are developing practical health and safety guides for school leaders and early learning services. They will be available in March this year and tailored to each sector.
These guides will provide useful information to help schools and early learning services develop their health and safety plans, and complement the Ministry of Education’s already published factsheets . They will include clear explanations, example policies, procedures and checklists.
We are seeking a group of schools (principals and Boards) to trial the schooling version of the resource in February. If you are interested in being part of this process, please email us at healthandsafety.info@education.govt.nz
Myth busting and FAQ with WorkSafe.
The Ministry has been working with WorkSafe on a series of FAQs and myth busting questions to help the sector. These can be found on our webspace or directly via WorkSafe.
Update on Regulations:
The draft regulations for working with hazardous substances have now been released for feedback.
The changes that could impact on the Education sector include the use of substances in technology classrooms and storage of substances.
The regulations for work involving hazardous substances carries through the current requirements for the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 (HSNO Act) in regulations, transfer notices, individual substance variations, and group standards, with some modifications to simplify requirements. The regulations also incorporate changes to codify existing good practice, in some cases based on the provisions of the Australian Model regulations.
For more detail on the decisions the government has already made on aspects of the regulations, areas they are seeking feedback on, and to download a copy of the draft Health and Safety at Work (Hazardous Substances) Regulations 2016 (Consultation Draft) go to the MBIE website (PS it is a rather large document)
Feedback can be sent to HSWregs@mbie.govt.nz by 5pm, Friday 26 February 2016 .