WorkSafe has launched a new road cone hotline as part of sweeping reforms by the Government that aim to “significantly refocus” the agency’s scope from strict enforcement to greater collaboration with businesses and individuals.
Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden said she heard “many concerns” during public consultation from a wide range of Kiwi businesses and workers about WorkSafe’s “inconsistency, culture and lack of guidance”.
“For too long, businesses and employers have asked for more guidance and help from WorkSafe on how to comply with health and safety legislation, only to be told it’s not WorkSafe’s job.
“A culture where the regulator is feared for its punitive actions rather than appreciated for its ability to provide clear and consistent guidance is not conducive to positive outcomes in the workplace.”
As part of the overhaul, a 12-month pilot road cone “hotline” had been launched to investigate cases of overcompliance in temporary traffic management.
The initiative would work alongside a joint engagement programme by WorkSafe with NZTA and key industry stakeholders to educate those involved with temporary traffic management.
Van Velden said WorkSafe had also started slashing “outdated guidance documents” from its website and would be updating guidance where needed, with around 50 documents already scrapped.
“Removing and replacing outdated guidance will make it much easier for people to find the help they’re looking for and ensures WorkSafe is giving consistent and clear advice.”
WorkSafe’s funding structure would also be reclassified into four distinct categories.
These were supporting work health and safety practices, enforcing work health and safety compliance, authorising and monitoring work health and safety activities and energy safety.
“For some time, WorkSafe has struggled to effectively articulate the cost and effectiveness of its activities, making it difficult to monitor and assess the value of activities or the merit of requests for further funding”, van Velden said.
The changes to funding classifications would come into effect later in the year and provide a framework for WorkSafe’s shift in culture and expectations.
A Letter of Expectations formalising van Velden’s expectations had been sent to the WorkSafe board.