Newsletter: July 2019 Newsletter

In this Issue

• Implementing the health & Safety at Work Act
• Looking back – Looking forward
• Mental Health Awareness
• Courageous Conversation Workshop
• CHASNZ Re-Qualification Update
• What risk looks like in your industry

July 2019 / ISSUE #58   On Monday, 15th July, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Iain Lees-Galloway launched a 3 month consultation period on regulations aimed at improving health & safety in the workplace.     What is this consultation? In short, it’s about improving regulations around working with plant, structures, at heights and excavation work.  If you feel the regulations are not right, not fair or irrelevant, now is the time to have your say.   “The regulations in these areas are outdated and full of gaps. We’re modernising them to ensure they are clear, effective, proportionate and durable.” “On average, 58 people a year die from injuries at work involving plant or structures. That’s three-quarters of all work-related deaths. There are high serious-injury rates for falls from heights, particularly in the construction sector. Fit-for-purpose regulations will support businesses to manage risks and make a real difference in improving our rates of work-related harm and fatalities.”   Keep it real, have your say and influence the outcome. https://www.mbie.govt.nz/have-your-say/implementing-the-health-and-safety-at-work-act-better-regulation-plant-structures-and-heights/ https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/keeping-workers-safe-and-supporting-businesses-do-it    The 2019 Canterbury Safety Charters AGM was a successful and friendly event held in the Avon Room at the newly refurbished Christchurch Town Hall.   Key items on the agenda were accepting and approving modifications to the Charters rules, welcoming new board members, reviewing current and forward work programmes and acknowledging our key strategic partners.   Our Past Year It was noted the recent operational year for the Canterbury Safety Charter was both extremely challenging and rewarding. This past year truly highlighted the strengths of our management team, members and strategic partners who reliably and consistently engage to successfully deliver on key projects and operational goals.    A highlight of the year’s outputs was the release of high quality and informative video case studies produced by both the Health and Safety Representatives and Professional Services working groups. These excellent resources are now available to our industry and are the result of willing engagement and consultation of our members and strategic partners.   A big thank you goes out to the members of all past and present Charter working groups for their continued efforts in delivering work programmes that benefit our members and other organisation’s.   Our Year Ahead The Safety Charter continues its commitment to align with Worksafe NZ strategic plans, to influence greater outcomes in regional and national health and safety performance.  The project base of this coming years work programme will continue its focus on, broad industry engagement, critical risk prevention, and leadership research to identify and implement sustainable leadership in health and safety.   WorkSafe NZ is the Safety Charters key strategic funding partner whose continued investment and guidance enables the Charter to continue its ongoing industry engagement and project delivery and for this we are extremely grateful.   We also welcome and announce a new strategic industry partnership with PlaceMakers Canterbury who are generously supporting our 2019/2020 Charter event programme. This support comes from the combined resources of all five PlaceMakers stores in the Canterbury region. With this commitment and support we can confidently deliver regular quality events to you – our members. We encourage you as a Charter member to reciprocate this support when possible.   The Canterbury Safety Charter has also extended its strategic support to Construction Health and Safety NZ (CHASNZ) endorsing and supporting its national strategy of streamlined competency training and overall standards improvement.   Our membership base numbers have remained steady throughout the past year even as organisation’s change their structures, leave the region and for some, exit the industry. Our new members continue to be a broad cross sector representation of industry which is pleasing.   Welcome to the Board The Safety Charter is fortunate to have a very capable and committed board and we thank them for their efforts and hands on involvement this past year.   We warmly welcome in our new board members, Justine Ward from Downers and Sharon Butt from the Christchurch City Council. Both Justine and Sharon have extensive Health and Safety experience and strong management skills which will add value to our board and support to our management team. This coming year we look forward building and strengthening our relationships with our strategic partners and maintaining and improving our effective membership engagement.   Thank you, keep well and be safe.   Update from Sherry  Mental Health Awareness Farewell to HSR Chair during recent workshop Courageous Conversation workshop held Friday, 1 July   CHASNZ Pre-Qualification Update What is happening with pre-quals? What risk looks like in your industry Many New Zealanders work on road works, which has a high variety of hazards and therefore a high amount of risk … Membership Invoices Due Now As a member organisation your levy is the fuel that accelerates the Safety Charter, which assists the Charter to  influence positive outcomes in health and safety practices in Canterbury, and to support the health and safety of all workers to ensuring everyone goes home safe and healthy every night. You will have now received your Membership Levy Invoice which is now due for payment.  Our preferred method of payment is by direct payment.  Unfortunately,  the Charter can not accept credit card payments.  If you require a purchase order number on your invoice please advise admin@safetycharter.org.nz and we will update your invoice for you.   If you have any question about your membership or need to change the details of the people in your organisation please contact the Charter Administrator on admin@safetycharter.org.nz A HUGE THANK YOU to those who have already paid their levy invoice.   Tuesday, 15th October SAVE THE DATE: H&S Practitioners Event Time: 6.30am – 9am HS Practitioners Event  How can we do things differently? FURTHER DETAILS TO FOLLOW For further information please contact info@safetycharter.org.nz Friday, 1st November SAVE THE DATE:  HSR Workshop Time: 6.30am – 9am HSR Workshop Demystifying Risk Assessment FURTHER DETAILS TO FOLLOW For further information please contact info@safetycharter.org.nz Do you have a Health and Safety Superstar? Nominate them for a Charter Champion Award. Help us acknowledge and award your Champion. Charter Champions are reviewed and awarded quarterly.  NOMINATE A CHAMPION