ISSUE
26 August 2015
COMMUNITY LEGAL SERVICES SOUTH TRUST
LEGAL LOWDOWN
Health and Safety at Work Act
HEALTH & SAEFTY LAW REFORM HEALTH AND SAFETY LAWS
A set of regulations are currently being developed to supplement the new law reforms.
The Health and Safety Reform Bill has passed and the new law (the Health and Safety at Work Act) will come into force 4 April 2016. The Bill replaces the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 and is a part of “Working Safer” which is aimed at reducing New Zealand’s workplace injury and death toll by 25% by 2020.
There will also be a requirement for all large businesses and small business in high risk sectors to have a health and safety representative if a worker requests such. There will also be a requirement to consider establishing a health and safety committee if 5 or more workers or a health and safety representative requests such.
There are a number of objectives that the law reforms hope to achieve as follows:
The new laws also provide for penalties for serious offences for both individuals and corporate entities for reckless conduct that results in the death of a worker. The maximum penalty is a $3million fine or 5 years imprisonment for individuals.
(a) Reinforce proportionality: A workplace must have appropriate risk management measures in place, based on the level of risk and size of workplace. (b) Focus on identifying & managing critical risks as opposed to trivial hazards. (c) Focus on what are reasonably practicable health and safety measures for workplaces. (d) Focus on conduct of work as opposed to physical workplace. (e) Supports engagement and participation with workers to promote flexibility to suit business size and need.
2
Flatmates vs Tenants
3
Enduring Power of Attorney
For more information on these law changes, please see the MBIE website. Source: Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment
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Status of Maori Land
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Tenancy law reform 1