Health and Safety Stories - Page 18

Kiwi Stories

Health and Safety stories

Pressure mounting to ban engineered stone

Calls are growing for New Zealand to follow Australia and ban the material, as experts warn silica dust can cause fatal lung disease.

By Michael Curreen • 2 min read • Wed, 20th Mar 2024

Risk & Compliance

Rescue scenario offers invaluable learnings

The drill exposed gaps in Watercare’s rescue plans and could improve real-world response times at remote sites.

By Michael Curreen • 5 min read • Wed, 13th Mar 2024

Construction

Number of women in construction doubles since 2013

Women still account for only 15% of construction workers, despite the number almost doubling since 2013.

By Staff Writer • 4 min read • Thu, 7th Mar 2024

Oil and Gas

Everything you need to know about silicosis

Workers exposed to silica dust face an incurable lung disease that can take years to appear and may later prove fatal.

By Michael Curreen • 7 min read • Wed, 6th Mar 2024

Law

Customer loses leg after being hit by forklift

A lack of traffic controls at Trade Depot's Onehunga site left a customer with an amputated leg, prompting almost USD $500,000 in penalties.

By Michael Curreen • 3 min read • Wed, 28th Feb 2024

Risk & Compliance

WorkSafe bans wall-mounted heater

Several fires and overheating incidents have prompted a ban on Serene Classic S2068 bathroom heaters, with consumers urged to stop using them.

By Michael Curreen • 3 min read • Thu, 22nd Feb 2024

Risk & Compliance

WorkSafe investigation finds Police at fault

Charges against Police have been dropped after WorkSafe accepted a binding safety pledge following a Traffic Camera Operator's critical injury.

By Michael Curreen • 3 min read • Mon, 19th Feb 2024

Risk & Compliance

Lessons from Cyclone Gabrielle

Stronger planning rules are still needed to stop homes being built on land prone to landslides and coastal erosion after Cyclone Gabrielle.

By Michael Curreen • 6 min read • Fri, 16th Feb 2024

Human Capital Management

Have workplaces become Covid complacent?

New waves of Covid and other viruses are forcing businesses to revive safeguards as hot-desking and caution fatigue raise workplace risks.

By Michael Curreen • 4 min read • Thu, 15th Feb 2024

Health Technologies

Partnership to support healthy construction sector

Free online counselling and wellbeing support is now available to 6,500 Site Safe member businesses as burnout pressures mount in construction.

By Staff Writer • 3 min read • Wed, 14th Feb 2024

Risk & Compliance

Contractor and sub-contractor charged for death of apprentice

A teenage apprentice’s death has prompted fines and reparations after WorkSafe said two firms failed to manage the risk of heavy framing.

By Michael Curreen • 3 min read • Fri, 2nd Feb 2024

Risk & Compliance

Tree feller’s ‘dismissive attitude’ put motorists at risk

A Nelson court fined Stratford Logging operator Kevin Howard Stratford NZD $56,000 after unsafe felling beside State Highway 60 endangered motorists.

By Michael Curreen • 3 min read • Mon, 29th Jan 2024

Health and Safety

Hydraulic safety solution pioneered

A corrosion-resistant hydraulic block trialled for Sanford’s fleet could cut machine failures and improve safety across Australasia’s heavy industries.

By Michael Curreen • 4 min read • Sun, 21st Jan 2024

Risk & Compliance

Sexual and gender-based harassment

New guidance urges New Zealand employers to redesign workplaces and consult staff, as training alone will not curb harassment risks.

By Michael Curreen • 2 min read • Thu, 18th Jan 2024

Malware

Combating cybercrime in NZ with a robust cybersecurity strategy

New Zealand businesses grapple with cybercrime's volatile threat landscape, as incidents across various sectors showcase the dire consequences. A nuanced approach to cybersecurity strategy is vital.

By Nyuk Loong Kiw • 6 min read • Wed, 17th Jan 2024