
Nurses not monoliths are the backbone healthcare system
A recent report by global management consultants McKinsey & Company on why nurses want to leave contains valuable lessons for New Zealand. Continue →

Management pleads ignorance over severed thumb
Though management were unaware of their machine’s health and safety risks, the company was fined $200,000 over the incident
Mainland Poultry Limited was sentenced in the Papakura District Court after a worker’s thumb was severed in October 2020. Continue →

New tool to advise of New Zealand’s snow conditions
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 →

Vocational training leader applauds budget
Further investment into vocational education and training in Budget 2022 has been welcomed by the organisation leading New Zealand’s vocational training, Te Pūkenga. Continue →

Faulty heat lamps behind recent fires
WorkSafe is putting out a safety alert after a design fault with several brands of combination heat/light/fan units has been identified as a fire hazard
An example of a plastic lamp holder. Continue →

Popularity of branded masks may come back to bite SMEs
While they’re good marketing and may meet current Government guidelines, a health and safety company is warning employers to avoid issuing staff with branded cloth masks
Employers are responsible for the health and safety of their staff on-site, and issuing PPE equipment that is not fit for purpose could have serious implications, Besafe Training General Manager Jason Braithwaite says. Continue →

Chemical management systems lacking
Changes could be on the way after a report revealed gaps in how we monitor chemicals in the environment and how we interpret their impact on living things
The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Simon Upton, is proposing changes to the way New Zealand manages chemicals to make sure their environmental impacts are not overlooked. Continue →

Asbestos and water blasting not a good mix
High-pressure water blasting should not be used to clean roofing and cladding containing asbestos – those who do it can be prosecuted, WorkSafe says
Using high-pressure water blasting to clean roofing and cladding that contain asbestos has serious health and safety risks. Continue →

New guidance on using MEWPs in public areas
Key principles and ways to reduce likely risks when using Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs) in public areas and near roads has been published by the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF)
The use of powered access to provide an effective means of access to work at height is constantly increasing worldwide as the productivity and safety benefits are recognised by businesses and employers alike, IPAF Head of Safety & Technical Brian Parker says. Continue →

Multi-purpose, safer, faster telehandlers increase productivity
The introduction of game changing 360-degree rotating telehandlers looks set to disrupt the infrastructure, civil and construction industries
The days of needing on site a mobile crane, a boom lift or other types of elevated work platforms, a forklift and an excavator are numbered – one machine can do it all. Continue →