An independent taskforce review of workplace health and safety in New Zealand has recommended sweeping changes, and said the current system has "significant weaknesses".
The report presented to Minster of Labour Simon Bridges this morning said the taskforce was "deeply concerned" about the heath and safety performance of New Zealand workplaces.
Taskforce chairman, Rob Jager said today the current system was "not fit for purpose".
"We believe there is no single critical factor that can account for New Zealand's high rate of serious injuries and fatalities suffered at work.
"Rather, we believe that our workplace health and safety system has a number of significant weaknesses across the full range of system components that need to be addressed if we are to achieve a major step-change in performance."
Some of the 12 major weaknesses identified included confusing regulation, a weak regulator, poor worker engagement, and inadequate leadership.
The report also noted there was no comprehensive or reliable data set for monitoring workplace fatal injury rates, and said the lack of data left the taskforce with a "profound sense of unease".
The report said five industries - manufacturing, construction, agriculture, forestry and fishing - accounted for more than half of workplace injury claims.
Its recommendations included creating a new, stand-alone, well-resourced health and safety agency, enacting a new health and safety act, and changes to many other related laws.
Changes would include rewards for businesses with good performance and higher penalties for those with poor performance, including extending the manslaughter offence to corporations.
Mr Jager said if the reforms were implemented, a 25 per cent reduction in the rate of fatalities and serious workplace injuries by 2020 was realistic.
The Independent Taskforce on Workplace Health and Safety was established by the Labour Minister. It released a consultation document last year and has considered hundreds of submissions.
- By Heather McCracken of APNZ
