How widening the net, in search of diverse talent, is key to sustaining the industry One of the biggest challenges facing the construction industry is the shortage of people and skills throughout the sector. Continue →

If everything is running smoothly and ‘as expected’ at an automated plant, a system operations team may feel redundant, but a look below the surface tells quite a different story, says Swisslog Australia Maintenance Manager, Paul Woodward Achieving a state where everything is running smoothly is due to the hard work of not just the system operations team, but also teams of technicians and maintenance staff, from both the automation provider, and the client. Continue →

If your organisation is serious about safety, you need to be having regular ‘toolbox talks’ with your team Unlike an official safety meeting or training session, a toolbox talk is a shorter, more informal discussion, with a goal to support and reinforce your overall safety program by focusing on a specific safety issue with each talk. Continue →

New Zealand’s construction boom means contractors are busier than ever, but throw in the demands of tax time, and running a small business in the construction sector quickly becomes a juggling act, says Fergus job management software founder Dan Pollard While the end of the financial year can add to your workload, it is also an opportunity to get a detailed picture of your business and put healthy financial habits in place that will save you from repeating mistakes in the future. Continue →

Recent changes to privacy legislation have implications for contractors, who often collect and store people’s personal information, for example on site sign-in registers, Civil Contractors New Zealand explains In December 2020 an updated Privacy Act came into being. Continue →

Five excavator tip-overs in the last 18 months highlights the serious health and safety risks involved when operating heavy equipment In the last 18 months, WorkSafe have been notified of five excavator tip-overs on mine sites. Continue →

The latest BCI Horizon Scan Report looks at trends of incidents faced by organizations over the past year, the top threats, their impacts and the cost of disruptions, with COVID-19 having a big part to play Organizations have reported heightened risks and threats over the past year, largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the 2021 BCI Horizon Scan Report, sponsored by BSI. Continue →

A year on from our first national lockdown, it appears we are working more hours for less money, says Frog Recruitment’s general manager Shannon Barlow Working longer for less is a hangover from the new way people had to learn to work during the lockdowns. Continue →

A worker was hammering a piece of reinforcement rod into the ground when it hit a 11kv electrical cable In July 2020, a worker on the City Rail Link project in Auckland’s CBD hammered a piece of reinforcement rod into a former public footpath area. Continue →

The main trunk line for New Zealand’s trains was forced to close for 24 hours after a truck hit a rail bridge near Taihape, causing the cancellation of 11 trains The incident is the latest in a string where vehicle drivers have misjudged the height of bridges and struck them, causing damage and train cancellations. Continue →

Repetition is a key to making people remember important points, so going over these important workplace safety topics will really help to reinforce the message There are a frightening number of manufacturing workplace hazards with the potential to cause incidents or injuries that are easily preventable, which is one of the reasons for companies to host regular safety meetings to discuss manufacturing safety topics and tips. Continue →

A safety manager’s job is to minimize risk in the workplace, reduce potential hazards, and prevent worker illnesses and injuries Ensuring worker and workplace safety are paramount to running a profitable business. Continue →

Changes in COVID Alert Levels can result in significant economic effects, so it is important for businesses to understand what government support is and will be available What is available at COVID-19 Alert Level 3 or 4 In the event Alert Levels escalate to Level 3 or higher for a period of seven days or more, there will be a new wage subsidy scheme put in place. Continue →

Kwotimation, which has already secured $500,000 of funding, addresses the most common bugbear for tradies: creating a quote and securing the job Initially focused on tilers, Kwotimation is the brainchild of mates Josh Faraimo and Jarome Cavubati and equips tilers to create a complete website and automated online pricing system in a matter of minutes. Continue →

Since July 2020, New Zealand has had at least 10 border control failures and at least five “internal MIQ facility failures” involving the spread of COVID-19 between returnees Prof Nick Wilson, Dr Leah Grout, Prof Michael Baker – University of Otago There have been ongoing system improvements to address these failures, but hotel-based facilities have inherent problems with shared spaces and inadequate ventilation, as recognised in WHO guidance. Continue →

In June 2020, a court decision resulted in an impact to the way workplace investigations are regulated, leaving many employment and health & safety service providers scrambling to obtain the appropriate licence Those who carry out workplace investigations are required to hold a Private Investigator licence or be regulated under another Act or scheme. Continue →

Sick building syndrome, which blames factors like heating and air conditioning for sickness, days off and poor performance has been a worry since the 80’s COVID-19 has highlighted the need for a fresh focus on intelligent ventilation systems. Continue →

Business owners are required to work with WorkSafe inspectors carrying out site visits or they run the risk of facing enforcement action Manawatu dairy farmer Daniel Reuel Sproull has been fined $4000 after he prevented inspectors from accessing his property failed to attend or make alternative arrangements to complete a required interview at WorkSafe’s offices. Continue →

Law firm MinterEllisonRuddWatts reflects on what have been the dominant features of 2020 and looks back on the trends we have seen develop over the past 12 months This year, COVID-19 has obviously dominated workplace health and safety. Continue →

Regardless of what industry you’re in, safety matters in every type of workplace environment, which is why so many business owners and safety managers are looking for new and updated ideas to keep employees safe, happy, and healthy Some of the following tips may seem like common sense, but they bear repeating and reminding employees about regularly. Continue →