Property & Build: Election 2023

Page 46

ELECTION 2023

NZ workplace fatality rate is double Australia’s New Zealand is trailing seriously behind other countries in mitigating workrelated harm, a problem costing the country $4.4 billion a year, a new report reveals

T

he State of a Thriving Nation report pulls together a range of economic and qualitative data to better understand this country’s health, safety and wellbeing performance. It puts the total cost of lost lives, lost earnings and serious injury and health costs from work-related harm in New Zealand at $4.4 billion. Produced by Sense Partners and Shamubeel Eaqub on behalf of the Business Leaders’ Health and Safety Forum, the report shines a light on our current performance as well as looking at two issues facing businesses in 2023; an economic slowdown and a general election – and how they play into workplace health and safety in this country. “The report makes confronting reading. While we’re making progress as a country, it is too slow,” says Forum CEO Francois 46 propertyandbuild.com

Barton. “If New Zealand could improve its performance to match that of Australia, we would reduce our costs to the country by nearly $1 billion per year,” he says. “Fatality rates remain stubbornly high and are similar to those the United Kingdom experienced in the 1980s.” When pulling together data and literature on how economic cycles affect health and safety outcomes, economist Shamubeel Eaqub says the causes of harm tend to be different at different stages of the economic cycle. “When the economy is booming, there is too much busyness, which can crowd out good systems and processes, and culture. When the economy is weak, there can be a tendency towards cutting safety, training, and culture/wellbeing resourc-

es,” he says. “We surveyed Forum members for a pulse check on the economy and business plans over the past year, and the year ahead. While the Forum membership is weighted towards larger firms, the results show that economic growth is expected to be moderate, but continue to grow, defying pessimism in many current surveys of business.” “The survey also told us that businesses expect to continue making significant investments in capital, technology, and training, even more than in the last 12 months,” he says. When considering the upcoming general election, the report calls for the new government to prioritize the importance of a level playing field through clear regulatory expectations on businesses and effective

follow-through and accountability. “New Zealand’s health and safety performance is a nationally significant issue, and demands action from across government and business,” says Francois Barton. “The Health and Safety at Work Strategy 2018-28 has not yet published a workplan – first planned for delivery in 2019, nor established any form of system oversight or governance. This needs to be prioritized,” he says. “We can, and must do better, as business leaders, government, and the regulators to change this economic and social toll to our people and our country.” Read the full report


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook

Articles inside

Hard work gets results

0
pages 62-63

Chemical safety relies on meaningful cooperation

1min
page 61

How to attract, retain and support good staff

8min
pages 56-60

The great unlearning

5min
pages 54-55

The perfect combination of quality assurance, high stock levels and expertise

1min
pages 52-53

No better investment than chemical safety training

2min
page 51

Ensuring adequate respiratory protection

1min
pages 48-50

NZ workplace fatality rate is double Australia’s

2min
pages 46-47

Industry leader in soft fall protection on construction sites

1min
page 45

Physical threats & abuse widespread in construction

1min
page 44

Was the Covid-19 wage subsidy successful?

4min
pages 42-43

Are you maximising the benefits of your AEP?

5min
pages 40-41

How BIM Will Impact Your Future Infrastructure Projects

2min
page 38

Construction partnership aims to accelerate growth sectorwide

1min
pages 36-37

A collaborative way forward for infrastructure & construction

4min
pages 34-36

How will new energy standards affect Australia’s building sector?

2min
pages 32-33

Proven efficiency

1min
page 31

Safer, faster, multipurpose telehandlers

1min
pages 30-31

What does the future look like for housing in New Zealand?

7min
pages 26-29

Shortsightedness and poor planning lead to property buyouts

3min
pages 25-26

New Zealand cities losing their leaves

1min
page 24

National’s new housing strategy mixed bag’

5min
pages 22-24

Foreign buyer housing policy grabs attention of offshore billionaires

5min
pages 20-22

Kiwi innovation leading the way in concrete slab insulation

2min
pages 19-20

Would a land value tax incentivise housing growth

3min
pages 18-19

Development activity falling as headwinds intensify

4min
pages 16-17

Rental stock reaching crisis levels

2min
page 15

House prices up for first time since downturn

11min
pages 10-14

Commercial property insights Q2 2023

3min
pages 8-9

SLAB 200 HIGH PERFORMANCE 200kPa RATED INSULATION FOR CONCRETE SLABS

0
page 7

Reserve Bank taking ‘wait and see’ approach

1min
page 6

Is our electoral system undemocratic

1min
pages 4-5

Site Safe New Zealand launch VR training courses for New

2min
pages 2-4
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.