Civil Contractors New Zealand Technical Manager Michelle Farrell observes a real-life scenario of temporary traffic management and how it aims to reduce risk, but in some ways achieves the opposite The activity is footpath construction on two corners of a no exit street, off a side street, off a very busy Auckland urban road. Continue →

Outdated perceptions of leadership persist across society despite being repeatedly debunked, University of Queensland research finds Professor Alex Haslam from the university’s School of Psychology led research into ideas about leadership which are still popular despite being harmful for individuals, groups, and organisations. Continue →

With the labour market becoming more competitive, employers are turning to anthropologists to create an optimum environment for employee attraction and retention, says corporate anthropologist Michael Henderson Historically, New Zealand has lagged behind international trends in the use of human scientists from this field, but this is now changing – with demand growing rapidly since the pandemic. Continue →

Stratford Logging’s operator has been sentenced for repeatedly and unapologetically cutting corners to save a dollar Kevin Howard Stratford, who operates Stratford Logging, was convicted in the Nelson District Court and fined $56,000. Continue →

For many people, career advancement does not always mean climbing the corporate ladder, a Randstad report finds To be seen as aspirational places to work, Randstad Chief Executive Sander van ‘t Noordende says employers need to embrace the idea of working in much closer partnership with talent, not only by developing their careers but also by building equitable workplaces where workers feel they belong. Continue →

A world-first innovative hydraulic safety function block has been successfully trialled in New Zealand, with the potential to improve machine safety across several industries Safety engineering team TEG Risk has taken the helm in collaboration with Fluid Power Solutions to spearhead a pioneering safety solution for Sanford, a New Zealand-based fisheries operator. Continue →

Safe Work Australia has published a model Code of Practice which will serve New Zealand operators well The model code provides practical guidance for persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) on how to eliminate or minimise the risk of sexual and gender-based harassment at work so far as is reasonably practicable. Continue →

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 →