Remote working has unique challenges that are different from working on site, so how do you manage it? Continue →

Four employees who were terminated by the management of a large oil and gas company in Taranaki have been awarded almost $280,000 in lost wages, reimbursements and compensation by the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) In a determination released mid-May, the ERA found the oil and gas company guilty of breaching good faith as an employer, after it made the four employees redundant “out of blue” after it claimed it was in a dire financial position due to falling oil prices and the outbreak of the Covid pandemic in 2020. Continue →

A civil infrastructure company has turned to the Internet of Things (IoT) to help monitor levels of noise, dust and vibration in real time that until recently, required on-site manual testing Construction teams can find it challenging to monitor the levels of noise, dust and vibration produced in real time on worksites. Continue →

An unfortunate side-effect of a technology or a product becoming successful in today’s world are the cyberattacks that follow, IoT Alliance executive director Alison Mackie says Cyberattacks are increasing globally and in New Zealand every year. Continue →

The forestry industry is broken – or at least it was, before the establishment of the Forestry Industry Safety Council (FISC). Continue →

Even where a worker does something ‘stupid’, legislation would still expect the business has identified that ‘act of stupidity’ as a risk and therefore placed suitable controls around it, just as with any other risks identified, Health and Safety Consultant Jason Shepherdson explains Where Critical Risks are concerned, the obligations stay with the Person(s) Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) that controls the risk. Continue →

An employer’s right to discipline staff in breach of their employment agreement is now in question after a ruling from the Employment Relations Authority In October 2020, Inland Revenue employee Renee Andrews viewed a client’s confidential information without authorisation and disclosed it to colleagues. Continue →

Information from a construction industry survey will help reduce accidents and injuries on construction sites Construction accounts for 10% of the national workforce, but 15% of all ACC claims. Continue →

A total of 2333 cyber security incidents were reported in New Zealand in the first quarter this year, with phishing and credential harvesting continuing to grow as the most common forms of cyber attacks, NZTech Chief Executive Graeme Muller says New Zealand is ranked 56th in the world in cyber security according to the Portulans Institute and greater effort is urgently needed as the economy rapidly becomes more digital. Continue →

Almost every large building has systems to control and monitor power and lighting, temperature and ventilation, elevators and more, known collectively as Building Management Systems, Claroty ANZ Regional Director Lani Refiti says Historically, Building Management Systems (BMS) were siloed with their own control facilities, connected over separate dedicated networks. Continue →

Many safety managers tend to heavily focus on getting safety protocols, training, and equipment in place, but none of that is effective without employee adherence The cold, hard truth is that PPE that isn’t worn does nothing; training that isn’t paid attention to helps no one; and protocols that are not followed have weak results. Continue →

Temporary traffic management in New Zealand is in the middle of a significant change – from a proscriptive compliance-based approach to a risk-based approach, says Civil Contractors New Zealand Technical Manager Stacy Goldsworthy The industry has traditionally conformed to the requirements of the Code of Practice for Temporary Traffic Management (COPTTM), however the introduction of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 required work activities to be assessed for risk and reasonably practical controls to be put in place to protect workers. Continue →

The opioid fentanyl has exploded overseas – here are five things businesses should do to keep on top of drugs in the workplace The Drug Detection Agency (TDDA) is warning of the dangers that fentanyl brings in a safety sensitive workplace like trucking or forestry. Continue →

Focusing on permits and signs does not protect workers and often leaves actual health and safety measures forgotten in the rush to complete paperwork, Besafe Training General Manager Jason Braithwaite says   We have a culture of paper health and safety, but proper measures like assessing risk, putting in place appropriate controls and ensuring they are enforced do not get the attention they deserve. Continue →

NIWA’s Snow and Ice Network (SIN) provides information on snowfall, depth of snowpack, snow melt and climate for ten sites across New Zealand A new tool giving near real-time snow data has been made available to the public for the first time. Continue →

With security innovation years behind that of the attackers, prevention-centric approaches no longer serving businesses, and the role of boards and legislation more important than ever, Vectra AI research shows the ‘game needs to be changed’ Today’s organisations are continuing to fail by tackling complex, modern cyber threats using outdated methods amid significant changes taking place in today’s threat landscape. Continue →

The coming winter, with its rains and current economic pressures, is a time of heightened danger for Kiwi workers who are still too willing to cut corners, Besafe Training General Manager Jason Braithwaite says Supply shortages will put extreme deadlines and financial pressures on labourers and tradespeople as weather conditions begin to deteriorate ahead of winter. Continue →

Video calls are shown to reduce the production of creative ideas, compared to in-person meetings, finds a US study published in Nature During the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of employees were required to work from home indefinitely and collaborate virtually using videoconferencing technologies. Continue →

There are concerns small businesses will be hit hard if the Fair Pay Agreements Bill becomes law, and it has already passed its first reading parliament, Dentons Kensington Swan reports The Fair Pay Agreements Bill introduces the Fair Pay Agreement system, a mechanism that allows for bargaining between employers and employees to set binding minimum terms and conditions across an industry or occupation. Continue →

A new international research review conducted by New Zealand health & safety software innovator, SaferMe, has shed light on the role of social relationships in the costly incident record in our construction industry SaferMe CEO & Founder Clint Van Marrewijk says the insights from the company’s research work will impact the current thinking of most businesses. Continue →