Substantial reform in the health and safety space is currently underway in New Zealand, with the Health and Safety Reform Bill (Reform Bill) likely to be enacted and in force before the end of 2015. This overhaul of New Zealand’s workplace health and safety system comes after years of review, a Royal Commission on the Pike River Coal Mine Tragedy and an Independent Taskforce on Workplace Health and Safety.
The Reform Bill has a strong emphasis on prevention and accountability. It follows on from other reforms in the health and safety arena such as the introduction of WorkSafe New Zealand, the new health and safety regulator, which is seeking to take a proactive approach to enforcement.