Health and Safety stories
Businesses sharing workplaces face fines if they fail to coordinate safety duties under new law aimed at closing gaps for workers.
Workplace drinks can expose employers to liability if staff leave intoxicated, with experts urging clear controls and safe transport.
New Zealand directors may face sharper scrutiny after an Australian ruling over a contractor’s electrocution clarified who counts as an officer.
Homeowners may be surprised to learn that once tradespeople start work, safety duties shift to them and the tradies themselves.
Workers and neighbours were exposed to asbestos fibres after demolition proceeded without checks, leaving a North Shore homeowner with a NZD $49,000 bill.
A lack of basic cleanup and warning procedures left a slippery berth contaminated for two days, contributing to a visitor’s death at South Port New Zealand.
As drones multiply in New Zealand, operators are increasingly seeking cover to protect against crashes, liability and legal action.
Workers who feel drained may recover happiness by making a plan and seeking advice, according to a study of 500 employees.
Workplace stress is costing employers productivity and retention, as firms widen wellness programmes beyond exercise to mind, emotions and values.
Better risk tools and a more mature culture could help firms spot warning signs earlier and avoid costly disasters before they strike.
Falls and productivity losses could ease as United Forklift and Access Solutions introduces a lighter ladder alternative for crowded worksites.
Road crews could trim roadside vegetation faster and with fewer traffic delays as the tractor-mounted system cuts around posts in seconds.
WorkSafe’s case against MSD is a warning to public-facing employers to review protections after Ashburton exposed deadly gaps in staff safety.
Fatigue can slow reactions, cloud judgement and raise incident risk, especially on long shifts, night work and safety-critical tasks.
Businesses will face simpler hazardous substances rules as New Zealand shifts workplace controls to WorkSafe under health and safety reform.
Auckland’s water supply project went 14 months without a recordable incident, after safety measures were adopted across the wider industry.
The new water-based coating reduces stripping and deep scrubbing, cutting chemical exposure while helping floors stay safer and harder-wearing.
Accident prevention in tanks, silos and manholes could improve as researchers offer a five-step tool to assess confined-space risks.
A national study could reveal hundreds of millions of dollars in gains for New Zealand as businesses remain slow to adopt connected devices.
Dairy farms are missing safety lessons because staff underreport incidents, fear blame and fail to follow up on fixes, researchers found.
