Business Canterbury welcomes the passing of the Health and Safety at Work Amendment Bill today, which closes out one of the three key legislative changes the government is making in what we call the ‘trifecta’ of red tape reduction (also including Holidays Act reform and Resource Management Act reform).
“The current system places too much emphasis on tick boxing and paperwork, rather than helping businesses focus on managing the risks that can cause serious harm.
“Inconsistent processes and enforcement action being undertaken by WorkSafe also created an adversarial relationship with the business community, which was not necessarily conducive to positive health and safety outcomes.
“From April next year, businesses will now have much greater clarity on expectations and best practice – which will move them away from box ticking and paperwork generation to a real focus on minimising critical risks.”
Business Canterbury will provide its members with support in the transition period, and will advocate this election year to ensure that the next government honours the substantive changes made through the better recognition of Approved Codes of Practice (ACOPs), the prioritisation and definition of critical risk, and a refocus on an ‘education first’ operating model for WorkSafe.
Business Canterbury, formerly Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce, is the second largest Chamber of Commerce in New Zealand and the largest business support organisation in the South Island. It advocates on behalf of its members for an environment more favourable to innovation, productivity and sustainable growth.