Good intentions risk more bureaucracy without reducing harm to workers

Health and safety reforms unveiled today risk adding more confusion and paperwork, without reducing workplace harm, the Business Leaders’ Health and Safety Forum says.

The reforms adopt a prescriptive approach to defining critical risks that was abandoned years ago by countries like Australia and the United Kingdom, whose rates of harm are much lower than New Zealand’s, Forum CEO Francois Barton says.

"People's lives literally depend on us getting these reforms right. For that reason, the Forum is keen to work with the Minister and Select Committee to ensure the legislative changes achieve what we believe should be the over-riding goal, to reduce workplace harm."

Read more in the full media release below.