Funding has been awarded to further develop an ‘AI guardian angel’ that makes roadworks safer for workers and road users RUSH, a pioneering New Zealand technology company, together with Downer’s Transport & Infrastructure, has been awarded funding in the second round of the Waka Kotahi Hoe ki angitū – Innovation Fund to further develop the technology. Continue →

The Commerce Commission has filed criminal charges against two construction companies and two directors for alleged bid rigging of publicly funded construction contracts The charges follow a Commission investigation into allegations that the companies and their directors colluded to rig bids for infrastructure projects in Auckland.  Continue →

It beggars belief that WorkSafe will do a better job with such a significant decrease to staffing resource, New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (NZCTU) Secretary Melissa Ansell-Bridges says Axing 113 jobs at the health and safety regulator isn’t the right decision for the health and safety system in New Zealand. Continue →

The newly elected Government intends to re-introduce 90-day employment trial periods, but is this a good and commercially safe way for employers to take on new personnel? Continue →

Fair Pay Agreements (FPAs), a system for employment terms and conditions to be negotiated across entire industries and occupations, are set to be scrapped by the new Government against official advice A cabinet consultation paper leaked to the media shows the incoming Government is disregarding the negative impact of repealing Fair Pay Agreements, and the advice of their own officials, the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (NZCTU) says. Continue →

With December marking the start of summer in Aotearoa New Zealand, it’s important to be aware of the extra health and safety hazards that come with working outside. Continue →

The early opening of the impressive Taparahi viaduct over the landslide cutting the main access to Coromandel East Coast communities, is an extremely welcome acknowledgement of the professional engineering and construction expertise successfully bridging the massive, unstable subsidence. Continue →

WorkSafe is seeking feedback on new health and safety guidelines for PCBUs (persons conducting a business or undertaking) that aim to describe, in plain language, the psychosocial risks at work and what mentally healthy work is The audience for the guidelines is PCBUs, who are required to provide and maintain a work environment that is without risks to safety and health, so far as is reasonably practicable. Continue →

Home-based work has many benefits but also some unique challenges – Porch’s Denisse Garcia explores what you can do to combat those challenges, and find work-life balance The term “burnout” has been thrown around workplaces for years, but what does it actually mean? Continue →

Safety-conscious organisations from New Zealand and Australia have been recognised for working hard to reduce incidents involving at-work drivers and vehicles during the ninth annual Australasian Fleet Champions Awards The awards, run by Brake, the road safety charity and supported by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, acknowledge companies and individuals who have implemented successful initiatives, products or services to tackle fleet safety. Continue →

The importance of correct bearing installation is paramount in industrial machinery, particularly where it is subject to arduous and continuous use in demanding industries, says John Bucknell, Founder and Chief Executive of hydraulic tensioning specialist Technofast Food, beverage, primary processing, timber, sugar, mining, energy, and oil and gas – these are all industries which cannot afford the downtime caused by 16 per cent of all bearing failures, which specifiers attribute to incorrect installation. Continue →

A pioneer of coworking in Australia says “stress-free desks” are needed in workplaces as employee conflict escalates We are seeing an increase in loud-quitting and workplace conflict because people are stressed and struggling to re-adjust to office life and working around so many people in a confined space, @WORKSPACES Chief Executive Jenny Folley says. Continue →

There are concerns working people will bear the brunt of WorkSafe’s proposal for a deep and wide restructuring, taking New Zealand back to the days before the Pike River Mine tragedy A Government-commissioned review has found that while WorkSafe is performing its core regulatory functions, work is needed to achieve a sustainable funding model and clarity about the outcomes WorkSafe is delivering to New Zealanders. Continue →

Most organisations are falling behind with their talent health initiatives and need to invest in developing their people’s skills, a global study finds The report, led by the Cornerstone People Research Lab, provides a comprehensive view of the state of talent programmes across organisations worldwide. Continue →

A 2023 KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards finalist has come up with an innovative new technology that can spot road problems before they happen TDRI – Lincoln Agritech is on a mission to extend pavement life and reduce roading costs globally. Continue →

A study of psychosocial hazards in New Zealand construction businesses has revealed that workers are being abused and threatened, while health and safety leaders face huge challenges The study collected over 30,000 data points from construction businesses around the country and was led by Dr Steve Cantwell of safety software company SaferMe. Continue →

New Zealand is trailing seriously behind other countries in mitigating work-related harm, a problem costing the country $4.4 billion a year, a new report reveals The State of a Thriving Nation report pulls together a range of economic and qualitative data to better understand this country’s health, safety and wellbeing performance. Continue →

In the last election, more than 200,000 New Zealanders’ votes did not count toward the final result – an independent review is expected to call for changes which will give more people a voice in parliament The discussion and debate of different views are a healthy part of democracy, so when some views are not represented in parliament, this can give rise to unrest and division. Continue →

Two reports have been released detailing to what extent New Zealand’s Covid-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme preserved employment and supported businesses during the pandemic Funded by the Ministry of Social Development, Motu Economic and Public Policy Research Trust found that the program was good value for money, helping workers and small business owners more than if there had been no support at all. Continue →

The Accredited Employer Programme (AEP) can be appealing and cost-effective for large employers seeking to lower costs and self-manage injury claims within their workforce, Gallagher Bassett Chief Client Officer Steven Walsh says Facilitated by the Accident Compensation Corporate (ACC), this scheme allows large organisations to take control of their ACC levies, actively manage their Health and Safety environment and the total cost of when employees injure themselves at work, often resulting in better outcomes for their injured employees. Continue →