The New Zealand Government has a target to reduce workplace injury and death toll by 25 per cent by 2020. As the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment state on their website this is going to take leadership and action from businesses, workers and Government to achieve this goal.
A discussion document outlining proposals for new health and safety regulations was released in May 2014 by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
The discussion paper – Developing regulations to support the new Health and Safety at Work Act - is part of the Government’s Working Safer package of reforms
The Health and Safety Reform Bill currently before Select Committee will, if enacted, create the Health and Safety at Work Act. The regulations proposed in the discussion document will support the new Act.
The Health and Safety Reform Bill will create the new Health and Safety at Work Act, replacing the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992.
The select committee considering the Bill is due to report back by 30 March 2015 and then the Bill will continue its progression through the parliamentary process. It is likely that the Bill will come into force in the second half of 2015.
There will be adequate time between when the Bill is passed and when it comes into force to make sure duty holders are aware of their responsibilities under the new law.