Health and safety reform bill and the health and safety at. Working safer is aimed at reducing new zealands workplace injury and death toll by 25 per cent by 2020. A pcbu must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers who work for the pcbu, while the workers are at work in the business or undertaking. The health and safety at work worker engagement, participation and representation regulations spell out in more detail what is required under the health and safety at work act 2015 and under the health and safety at work general risk and workplace management regulations 2016. The health and safety at work act 2015 hswa is largely based on the australian work health and safety law but with changes to reflect the differences between the new zealand and australian working environments. The new law is part of a reform package aimed at reducing the number of serious workrelated injuries and deaths in new zealand by at least 25 percent by 2020. Apr 01, 2016 the health and safety at work act 2015 means that you will have to adapt your business to conform with the latest changes. Work health and safety and other legislation amendment bill 2015. The health and safety at work act 2015 hswa is new zealands key work health and safety law.
The health and safety at work act 2015 is new zealands workplace health and safety law. Health and safety at work act 2015 ministry of education. Health and safety legislation should not prevent disabled people finding or staying in employment and should not be used as a false excuse to justify. Amendment of section 1 2 section 1 of the health and safety at work act 1982 in this act referred to as the principal act is amended by deleting the words health and safety at work and substituting the following words occupational safety and health. Introduction to the health and safety at work act 2015. New legislation which came into force in new zealand on april 4 2016 has shaken up how businesses deal with health and safety concerns in the workplace. Apr 28, 2016 new act came into force on 4 april 2016 business owners and directors have a responsibility of duty of care to those who work for them or visit their premises these changes require them to exercise due diligence to ensure their business complies with its health and safety responsibilities the cost of getting it wrong is high the penalties. Implementing the health and safety at work act 2015. Finally, the heavyweight of the three books is toomas annotated work. Bills are proposals to make a new law or to change an existing one. Health and safety at work act 2015 1 the health and safety at work act 2015 comes into force on 4 april 2016. Its part of a reform package that aims to reduce new zealands work related illness, injury and fatality figures by 25% by 2020. As a result, new zealands work health and safety system underwent its most.
Health and safety in employment act 1992 health and safety at work act 2015 applies to employers, employees and contractors. The health and safety in work act was passed by parliament in august 2015. Act 1974 section 69 of the enterprise and regulatory reform act 20 erra came into effect in october 20 by order of the. The deregulation act 2015 health and safety at work. Introduction to the health and safety at work act 2015 special guide pdf 640 kb. Information on health and safety at work act hswa 2015. The hsw act places obligations on everyone in a workplace to take care of their own health. Health and safety laws apply to all employers, selfemployed people. May 06, 2016 new zealands new health and safety at work act 2015 hswa came into effect on april 4th 2016, along with the majority of the first phase of regulations to support the new health and safety at work legislation. The hsa has published guidelines on risk assessments and safety statements pdf. The hsw act places obligations on everyone in a workplace to take care of their own health and safety, and the health and safety of others. Health and safety is an issue that impacts virtually all companies and organisations in new zealand and the act has the potential to bring about some big changes.
It provides a significant change to new zealands current health and safety legislation, and is a response to the scrutiny placed on our health and safety practices following the pike river tragedy. How the new health and safety at work act will impact your. Worksafe nz is leading implementation of health and safety reforms, with contributions from transport agencies involved in health and safety activity. Act 1974 the 1974 act was amended by the deregulation act 2015 c. At 652 pages and full of useful information, toomas book is an excellent and comprehensive resource for everyone in the practice of health and safety law, but its utility is further reaching than. Health and safety at work an act to make provisions relating to health and safety at work and for connected purposes. On 4 april 2016, the health and safety at work act hswa came into force bringing new responsibilities for everyone in the workplace. Toomas annotated health and safety at work act 2015. Health and safety in employment act 1992 vs health and safety.
The health and safety at work act 2015 duncan cotterill. Assent 21st january, 2002 commencement 1st february, 2002 1. On 4 april 2016, the health and safety at work act 2015 will come into force. The health and safety at work act 2015 hswa is a critical part of. The health and safety at work act 2015 and related regulations apply to employees and contractors. A pcbu is a person conducting a business or undertaking. Health and safety at work act 2015 hswa new zealand home. In 20 the independent taskforce on workplace health and safety reported that new zealands work health and safety system was failing. Health and safety at work act 2015 new zealand legislation. Deregulation act 2015 health and safety at work general duties of.
Introduction to the health and safety at work act 2015 special. Health and safety at work act 2015 public act 2015 no 70 date of assent 4 september 2015 commencement see section 2 contents page 1 title 10 2 commencement 10 part 1 health and safety at work subpart 1preliminary provisions 3 purpose 10 4 transitional, savings, and related provisions 11 subpart 2application of act 5 application of act to. Health and safety at work act 2015 no 70 as at 29 march. Health and safety at work bill new zealand parliament. Health and safety at work etc act 1974 pdf legislation. Health and safety at work act 2015 no 70 as at 01 october. Work health and safety and other legislation amendment bill 2015 2 1. About the new act the focus of the new health and safety at work act is to protect workers and other people against harm to their health, safety and wellbeing by eliminating or minimising risks at work. Work health and safety amendment regulation 2015 no. Determination of numbers of health and safety representatives for work groups. Information on health and safety at work act hswa 2015 version 2 issued 5 march 2016 2 workers a worker is an individual who carries out work in any capacity for a pcbu.
A guide to new zealands key work health and safety law and its. Health and safety for disabled people and their employers. Jun 26, 2015 1 name this is the work health and safety amendment regulation 2015 no. The act and related regulations require that workers and others are given the highest level of protection from workplace health and safety risks, so far as is reasonably practicable. Each bill goes through several stages, giving mps and the public the chance to have their say. It provides a significant change to new zealands current health and safety legislation, and is a response to the scrutiny placed on our health and safety practices following the pike river. May 17, 2017 the recommendations of the taskforce culminated in the health and safety at work act 2015 hswa, which came into effect on 4 april 2016, and repealed the health and safety in employment act 1992. Health and safety at work act 2015 and attitude and behaviour in workplace health and safety has improved considerably by employees, employers and. Volunteers are only covered if working for a pcbu on an ongoing and regular basis.
Three new books on the health and safety at work act 2015. Health and safety at work act 2015 venues wellington. In this act, unless the context otherwise requires, reasonably practicable, in relation to a duty of a pcbu set out in subpart 2 of part 2, means that which is, or was, at a particular time, reasonably able to be done in relation to ensuring health and safety, taking into account and weighing up all relevant matters, including. Applies to previous plus nonprofit organisations, trainees, outworkers, students on work experience. Worksafe new zealand is the work health and safety regulator although other agencies can be designated functions for certain sectors. Health and safety reform bill and the health and safety at work act 2015 1. In determining whether a duty imposed on a person by or under this act is being or has been complied with, a person or a court may have regard to the requirements imposed under any other enactment whether or not those requirements have a purpose of ensuring health and safety that apply in the circumstances and that affect, or may affect, the health and safety of any person. Health and safety at work act 2015 hswa the health and safety at work act 2015 hswa is new zealands key work health and safety law, and came into effect monday 4th april 2016. The regulations give effect without modifications to proposals submitted to the secretary of state by the health and safety executive the executive under section 1 of the 1974 actb. The government has set an ambitious target of at least a 25 percent reduction in workplace injuries and fatalities by 2020. The health and safety at work act 2015 hswa is a critical part of working safer, the governments blueprint for improving new zealands workplace health and safety system. Mar 30, 2016 next week, on monday, 4 april, the longawaited health and safety at work act 2015 hsw act comes into force. Statuteshealth and safety at work etc act 1974 1974 c 37part i health.
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