Workplace Health and Safety Strategy for New Zealand to 2015
Rautaki mō te Haumaru me te Hauora o te Wāhi Mahi mō Aotearoa ki te 2015
Hon Ruth Dyson
Associate Minister of Labour
June 2005
Published in June 2005 by the Department of Labour
ISBN 0-478-28017-3
This document is available on the
Workplace Health and Safety Strategy
website: www.dol.govt.nz/whss
Copies are also available from:
Workplace Group
Department of Labour
PO Box 3705
Wellington
New Zealand
email: whss@dol.govt.nz
Foreword
E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā iwi katoa huri noa i te motu whānui tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa. Tēnā koutou i ngā aituā maha o te wā e hinga mai nei. Ko rātou ki a rātou, ko tātou ki a tātou, tīhei mauri ora.
I am pleased to present the Government’s Workplace Health and Safety Strategy for New Zealand to 2015. It directly supports the New Zealand Injury Prevention Strategy launched in June 2003.
The Strategy aims to lift New Zealand’s workplace health and safety performance. Despite our efforts to date, it is estimated that as many as 1,100 premature deaths occur each year because of work-related disease and injury. And, every day, approximately 700 workers are harmed badly enough to seek medical help. By improving our work practices and systems, we will prevent much of the pain, suffering and other losses experienced by individuals and families. Businesses and society will also benefit from increased productivity and growth.
By providing a vision and strategic direction for workplace health and safety in New Zealand, the Strategy reinforces and builds on existing legislative frameworks. It will help raise awareness and provide a basis for co-ordinated action by a wide range of stakeholders including central government agencies, local government, unions, industry and employer organisations, other non-government organisations and workplaces.
During its development, the Workplace Health and Safety Strategy had extensive input from the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions and Business New Zealand, as well as from a wide range of other organisations and individuals. Their contributions are reflected in this Strategy - and I would like to express my appreciation of all the time and thought and work that they have invested in it.
The Strategy’s Action Plan 2005/06 sets out the first step in a medium-term work programme. I will be monitoring progress against this plan and the plans that follow, and will ensure that reporting occurs, including through the Strategy website. I will also be working with my colleagues to ensure the Strategy is implemented across our portfolios and areas of influence.
Implementation of this Strategy requires commitment not only from the government, but also from employer and industry organisations, unions, workplaces, and other non-government organisations. It is my hope that all relevant parties will use the Strategy as a basis for working together toward a shared vision of healthy people in safe and productive workplaces.
Hon Ruth Dyson
Associate Minister of Labour
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