Each month, we publish a series of articles of interest to Individuals and Organisations -- health & safety checklists, organisational advice, industry safety insider secrets, VHNZ updates, etc. Whether you are an individual or you represent an organisation, we hope that this information is of value to you. Please feel free to pass these articles on to your colleagues, family and friends.

On 1st of July a new workplace health and safety system was launched by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Health and Safety Group in readiness for the new Crown agency WorkSafe New Zealand, which takes over the reins in December this year.

The new agency is charged with reducing serious harm and fatalities by at least 10 percent by 2016, and 25 percent by 2020.

Read more here

More injuries happen on residential building sites than any other workplace in the construction sector. The cost is estimated at $24 million each year.

Preventing falls from height is a priority for the Labour Group of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. From 1 July 2013, health and safety inspectors will be enforcing the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 in the construction sector as part of the Labour Group’s Preventing Falls from Height project. Contractors who choose to work unsafely are at risk of seriously injuring themselves and their workers.

Health and safety inspectors will stop any work at height until they are satisfied that it can be achieved safely. This may impact on work on your building, so make sure the contractor is doing the right thing at the beginning.

Work at height must be actively managed so that people are not harmed or killed as a result. Doing nothing is not an option. Do you want to know more... contact us diectly and we will ensure you are working at height safely.

1. The forklifts are to be driven only by trained and competent operators, who understand the forklift's capabilities, and are acting under the proper authority.
2. Operators should be physically fit to ensure satisfactory speed of reaction and a high standard of vision and judgement of distance.
3. Operators must be alert at all times to avoid accidents.
4. Operators must check that their forklift is in good operating condition, and has been properly maintained.
5. If at any time the forklift develops a fault or if there is reason to believe that it is unsafe, stop and report immediately to the appropriate authority.
6. Unless specifically authorised, and able, do not attempt repairs or adjustment to the forklift.
7. Load pallets evenly. Avoid building-up unstable loads which could collapse when moved.
8. Look over both shoulders before moving the forklift
9. Loads must stay within the weight capacity limits of the forklift as shown on the load-plate.
10. Never operate the forklift on gradients with the load elevated more than necessary.
11. Cross intersections with care.

Want to know more, click here

The VHNZ Tauranga Office has relocated. Should you need to courier anything or are coming into the office, we are now at:

• Unit 1,
• 282 Chadwick Road,
• Tauranga, 3112

Our P.O Box and phone numbers have not changed; only the physical address. This facility houses a fully dedicated  training facility - showing VHNZ's ongoing dedication to supporting the wider region.