Asbestos is often seen as a problem of the past. New Zealand banned imports of asbestos products in 2016, but the truth is more confronting says Site Safe NZ Chief Executive Brett Murray. Continue →

Some of the most common construction and manufacturing jobs can create high levels of hazardous dust. Continue →

The latest good practice guide for conducting an asbestos survey was published by WorkSafe in a 100 page plus manual of step-by-step guidance. Continue →

As a WorkSafe prosecution comes to a close, two workers overcome by fumes from a toxic gas pit have for the first time told of their experience of narrowly dodging death The men were doing an excavation, to try to fix the smell of rotting plasterboard at the Taylorville Resource Park near Greymouth in August 2023. 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 →

Following a WorkSafe investigation into an incident where an Ecostore worker suffered chemical burns to his eyes, the business is investing over $323,000 into improving its health and safety practices as part of an enforceable undertaking AI technology with real time hazard alerts is central to a new safety commitment WorkSafe New Zealand has accepted from the well-known household brand, Ecostore. Continue →

WorkSafe is consulting on a proposal to restrict access to areas where pesticides have been used for a period of time it is calling a ‘restricted entry interval’ A restricted entry interval (REI) is the period of time, after a pesticide has been applied to an area, during which residues of the pesticide are likely to be present and could affect the health of workers re-entering the area. 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 →

The Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ has added its voice to the calls for a ban on engineered stone to address growing concerns around cases of silicosis In New Zealand, between 750 and 900 people die from work-related diseases each year. Continue →

Asbestos remains the country’s number one work-related killer, with about 220 people dying each year from preventable asbestos-related disease Two recent court cases serve as a reminder to tradies and businesses of the dangers, and how to manage the risks of the known carcinogen. Continue →

Recent events in America have raised critical questions there around the health and safety risks associated with moving dangerous goods, writes John Sanders, Senior Program Manager at US technical solutions company ABS Group For decades, industry has moved along in the background of public life. Continue →

Following union protests over engineered stone and its association with silicosis, a debilitating and potentially fatal disease, Safe Work Australia is recommending the government prohibits its use Safe Work Australia has published the Decision Regulation Impact Statement: Prohibition on the use of engineered stone (Decision RIS). Continue →

There is more than just the Health and Safety at Work (Hazardous Substances) Regulations to consider when it comes to hazardous substances and who they can be supplied to, Chemsafety Senior Hazardous Substances Specialist Janet Connochie says We have seen recent activity from the EPA about hazardous substances that are only permitted to be supplied to workplaces. Continue →

Following the 2021 sentencing of Aimex Limited whose apprentice suffered serious brain injury, it was discovered a similar incident nearly occurred a week prior but had been covered up The New Zealand Police charged William Mansfield Trevor Sullivan for making a false statement and Steven Patrick John Sullivan for perverting the course of justice. Continue →

The Environmental Protection Authority and Ministry for the Environment are consulting on a proposed infringement scheme for hazardous substances The scheme relates to EPA Notices, not WorkSafe and the HSW Hazardous Substances Regulations. Continue →

In its ongoing fight against silicosis, New Zealand’s largest and only national stone benchtop fabricator is banning engineered stone that contains more than 40 percent silica AGB Stone will phase out high-silica slabs and cease working with suppliers who cannot meet the company’s standards, calling on the rest of the industry to follow suit. Continue →

Findings from a recent WorkSafe report may shed light on why  cancer and respiratory diseases contribute to 70% of all work-related deaths in New Zealand WorkSafe, in collaboration with the Occupational Integrated Database Exposure Assessment System (OccIDEAS) team and Research New Zealand, conducted the New Zealand Carcinogens Survey to estimate the current exposure to carcinogens among New Zealand workers. Continue →

As New Zealand recovers from the recent devastation caused by extreme weather, it is a timely reminder of the hazards that mould can cause in water-damaged properties Mould refers to various types of fungi that grow on organic material that contain a lot of moisture. Continue →

Always assume that flood water (and therefore silt) is contaminated with farm run-off, chemicals, or sewage, WorkSafe says You need to take precautions when you are disturbing silt or floodwater when working.  Continue →

Refurbishing comes with some very real risks as one business learned the hard way following a case of poorly handled flooring containing asbestos Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral containing strong fibres invisible to the eye. Continue →