Each month, we publish a series of articles of interest to Indivduals and Organisations -- health & safety checklists, organisational advice, industry safety insider secrets, VHNZ updates, etc. Whether you are an indivdual 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 collegues, family and friends.

The company was also ordered to pay $6,500 in reparations to the worker.  The company pleaded guilty to the charge brought by the Health and Safety Group of the Ministry.

The contract worker was one of two passengers sitting on the rear of the quad bike and as it drove forwards, he fell under a wheel of a trailer it was towing, breaking his arm.  Read more here

As you know Vertical Horizonz Group is a large international accedited specialist training company delivering industrial training around the Globe (here in NZ as you know this is quality benchmarked through NZQA). Vertical Horizonz New Zealand  (VHNZ) have decided to cease a contract of service with Natural Instincts for the management of VHNZ rural training, preferring to take the management of such a specialist subject back in houses, so we can ensure you get a robust, recognised  and defendable training solution.

The training being delivered under VHNZ (and not just Rural training ie, 4 wheel drive and ATV/Quads) has underpinning unit standards that are defendable in a court of law - if an incident was ever to happen, non-unit standard courses could put employees and their employers at risk (as above - its just not worth settling for second best)

It’s also worth mentioning, VHNZ lead Rural trainer Jerry Shore (who has been delivering both Driver & Rural training for over 10 years) still provides VHNZ training and continues to provide an outstanding service. Jerry is recognised as being one of the best 4WD/Rural trainers in the country.

As this type of training is so topical, VHNZ  would like to offer you a special fixed day rate for any Rural training of only $1,700 excl GST for July/August 2013 (a savings of $600).

Emma Smith (emma@verticalhorizonz.co.nz) at Vertical Horizonz is the Rural training co-ordinator and will look after your training needs.

We look forward to continuing to service every area of your organisation/business in the future. And Corey KIng, VHNZ Transport, Crane and Rural Manager (corey@verticalhorizonz.co.nz)  is happy to talk to anyone further about any aspect of this, should you or anyone else want to know more.

Labour Minister Simon Bridges has welcomed the report of the Independent Taskforce on Workplace Health and Safety. Read more here

The Taskforce has identified the following issues with components of the health and safety system.

• Confusing regulation
• A weak regulator
• Poor worker engagement
• Inadequate leadership
• Capacity and capability shortcomings
• Inadequate Incentives
• Poor data and measurement
• Risk tolerant culture
• Hidden occupational health
• Major hazard facilities
• Particular challenges to SMEs
• Particular at-risk populations

Levers for change - The report goes on to talk about the Government’s role in influencing the workplace health and safety system. The Government has identified three broad levers it can pull to influence behaviour by workers, PcBUs and other participants in workplaces.

• Accountability levers: The Government can create accountabilities and set expectations through legislation, regulations or acoPs, empowering state agencies by providing them with the mandate and function to ensure compliance with legal requirements, and empowering individuals.
• Motivating levers: The Government can encourage behaviours. This involves providing positive incentives to encourage or reward desirable behaviours, and negative incentives to discourage or sanction undesirable behaviours.
• Knowledge levers: The Government can influence behaviours. This involves providing information to influence people’s choices about how they behave, and ensuring that people have the knowledge, capacity and capabilities to make decisions. It also involves ensuring there is adequate research and evaluation that reinforces system participants’ learning

Want to know more, read the full executive summary here

Here are somne extracts directly from the Royal Commission on the Pike River Coal Mine Tragedy Volume 1 + Overview. The 44 page report is a good read and well worth the time. Here are the main findings from that report (some we are see reaching far beyond the mining sector).

Recommendation 1:
To improve New Zealand’s poor record in health and safety, a new Crown agent focusing solely on health and safety should be established.

Recommendation 2:
An effective regulatory framework for underground coal mining should be established urgently.

Recommendation 3:
Regulators need to collaborate to ensure that health and safety is considered as early as possible and before permits are issued.

Recommendation 4:
The Crown minerals regime should be changed to ensure that health and safety is an integral part of permit allocation and monitoring.

Recommendation 5:
The statutory responsibilities of directors for health and safety in the workplace should be reviewed to better reflect their governance responsibilities.

Recommendation 6:
The health and safety regulator should issue an approved code of practice to guide directors on how good governance practices can be used to manage health and safety risks.

Recommendation 7:
Directors should rigorously reviewand monitor their organisation’s compliance with health and safety law and best practice.

Recommendation 8:
Managers in underground coal mines should be appropriately trained in health and safety.

Recommendation 9:
The health and safety regulator should issue an approved code of practice to guide managers on health and safety risks, drawing on both their legal responsibilities and best practice. In the meantime, managers should consult the best practice guidance available.

Recommendation 10:
Current regulations imposing general health and safety duties on the statutory mine manager should be extended to include detailed responsibilities for overseeing critical features of the
company’s health and safety management systems.

Recommendation 11:
Worker participation in health and safety in underground coal mines should be improved through legislative and administrative changes.

Recommendation 12:
The regulator should supervise the granting of mining qualifications to mining managers and workers.

Recommendation 13:
Emergency management in underground coal mines needs urgent attention.

Recommendation 14:
The implementation of the co-ordinated incident management system (CIMS) in underground coal mine emergencies should be reviewed urgently.

Recommendation 15:
The activities of the New Zealand Mines Rescue Service need to be supported by legislation.

Recommendation 16:
To support effective emergency management, operators of underground coal mines should be required to have modern equipment and facilities.

Read more here

If you want your people to know, understand and be able to implement thier legaslative H&S responsibilities have a look at some of our H&S training or contact us for advice on your H&S systems.