Silicosis is an incurable and debilitating lung disease primarily caused by occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica – early symptoms include breathing difficulties, wheezing and chest tightness, writes Michelle Llamas of ConsumerNotice.org Silicosis may take years to manifest but can be fatal. Continue →

Courts have imposed more than half a million dollars in penalties since mid-March, in cases where workers have lost fingers on machinery that wasn’t kept safe by businesses “Businesses must manage their risks to keep workers safe. Continue →

Historically safety documents and certificates have been hard copy paperwork that sparkies need to lug from one premise to the next, which really isn’t practical when safety assessments need to be logged right away on every job, says Fergus founder Dan Pollard Digital safety certificates have helped tradies move from easy-to-lose, paper documentation to a simpler, more efficient digital format. Continue →

For the first time, New Zealand has a dedicated certification for fluid power engineering, providing new training and career path options to those in the hydraulics and pneumatics industries Gisborne Hydraulic Services – Mohammed Farook (Fluid Power Apprentice), Tasj Paulson (Owner Gisborne Hydraulic Services), Ben Julian (National Manager ATNZ) The Certificate in Fluid Power Engineering Fundamentals (Level 3) approved by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) is the result of sustained effort by several key people in the industry and of a newly formed New Zealand Fluid Power Association. Continue →

Energy Safety, WorkSafe’s regulatory arm for electricity and gas usage, has extended its clampdown on a brand of wall-mounted bathroom heaters associated with fires and overheating, prompting a response from MBIE Earlier this year the sale, use, installation, and importation of Serene Classic S2068 wall mounted bathroom heaters was prohibited.  Continue →

WorkSafe NZ is stressing the requirement for employers to provide and ensure personal protective equipment (PPE) is used after Northland business was found guilty and sentenced in relation to a casual worker in who suffered a significant eye injury The victim and a supervisor were repairing orchard fencing in April 2021 when a high-tensile wire snapped, striking the 20-year-old’s left eye. Continue →

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 →

The Aussies continue to highlight the inadequacies of worker protection regulations here in New Zealand with the quick introduction of regulations covering engineered stone On July 1 two sets of amendments to the Workplace Health and Safety Regulations will help protect workers from silicosis, a lung disease caused by exposure to respirable crystalline silica. Continue →

Large variances in the quality of inspections and the abilities of inspectors have driven the Elevating Work Platform Association of New Zealand Inc. Continue →

OFSEC EVENT 2024 is designed to meet the needs of the local, regional and international markets by linking practitioners, suppliers, distributors and manufacturers from the fire, safety, HSE and security industry, with key decision makers from the government and private sectors, making it a definitive networking platform, where new projects and partnerships are initiated and visionary objectives are implemented. Continue →