People’s health and safety is paramount, but it’s also important to weigh up cost against actual risk, Federated Farmers says.
“Absolutely, we want to keep our people safe, and the agricultural sector’s record in this regard needs improvement,” national board member David Birkett says.
“But at a time when businesses, families, councils and even the Government are having to wring every bit of value from their dollars, it’s timely to review what’s working and what isn’t in terms of health and safety regulations.”
Federated Farmers supports the recently announced Government review, which will look at whether current health and safety requirements are too strict or ambiguous.
The review will also consider whether the threshold at which work-related risks need to be management is under- or over-cautious, and the ‘reasonableness’ of other requirements.
“The number of road cones in this country is over the top,” Birkett says.
“We also have a traffic management code that’s nearly 600-pages long, and councils and electricity companies are saying traffic management can drive as much as 30% of the cost of a project.”
Birkett says the review should also look at the responsibilities of a PCBU (person in charge of a business unit) versus those of workers.
“Sometimes if feels like the employer is liable for everything. Of course, they should have robust safety procedures, but there has to be a level of self-responsibility by employees too.
“There need to be that balance.”
The review could also take in the role of WorkSafe as the regulator, Birkett says.
“In the past, they’ve been quite abrasive with their investigations or inspections.
“Employers can feel like they’re guilty unless they can prove their innocence.
“We know WorkSafe are already going down a track of a more reasonable approach, but there’s still work to do.”
Birkett believes there’s more scope for a co-operative approach, rather than the regulator wielding a big stick.
“I think people have a bit of fear around health and safety obligations. That’s not the way to get people engaged.”
Health and safety paperwork could also be streamlined, he says.
“Should there have to be a health and safety meeting once a week, when maybe a business only has one or two staff members?
“It’s worthwhile taking a look at where we could make improvements and reduce costs.”
Federated Farmers, New Zealand’s leading independent rural advocacy organisation, has established a news and insights partnership with AgriHQ, the country’s leading rural publisher, to give the farmers of New Zealand a more informed, united and stronger voice. Federated Farmers news and commentary appears each week in its own section of the Farmers Weekly print edition and online.
