As working from home remains common, so does fatigue from virtual meetings, but new research points to one quick fix that might help On many videoconferencing platforms users can set virtual backgrounds. Continue →

WorkSafe has accepted an enforceable undertaking (EU) worth $481,000 from timber manufacturer Claymark after one of its workers lost two fingers on the job AI-driven hazard detection is coming to timber manufacturing, thanks to a new agreement worth nearly half a million dollars between WorkSafe New Zealand and a major player in the wood processing industry. Continue →

The surge is consistent with rising wastewater statistics and confirms that meth supply remains readily available nationwide, having serious implications for workplace safety and productivity, warns The Drug Detection Agency (TDDA) Chief Executive Glenn Dobson New national data shows methamphetamine is growing and making up a disproportionate share of non-negative workplace drug test results. Continue →

Industry-leading online pre-qualification system, SiteWise, is celebrating its 10th  anniversary, marking a decade of commitment to health and safety excellence. Continue →

From 1 November this year, new Building Code rules come into effect around smoke alarms – both builders and homeowners need to be thinking ahead and, in some cases, starting to address the changes, says Jared Dinneen, NZ Country Leader, Home & Distribution Schneider Electric New Zealand Mid-winter is peak house fire season. Continue →

New Zealanders are being called on to double check their lifejackets before going out on the water, due to a fault found in an inflator mechanism which may result in jackets not inflating as expected The call comes from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and Maritime New Zealand, who say there are more than 21,000 affected units throughout New Zealand. 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 →

An unlicensed asbestos remover has been sentenced for pocketing more than $20,000 by misrepresenting his employer, which cannot confirm whether the removals were done safely or where the asbestos was disposed of Barrie John Crockett was in a project management role at Demasol Limited. Continue →

As winter creeps closer, WorkSafe is reminding businesses to take heed of the risks when operating at height after the sentencing of a Wellington business whose worker fell six metres 38-year-old Josh Bowles had only been in his job for two months and had no experience or training in working at height when he fell from a slippery rooftop in central Wellington in April 2023. Continue →

A PCBU means a Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking. Most New Zealand businesses, whether large corporates, sole traders, or self-employed, are classed as PCBUs. Continue →