Articles tagged with Safety

Showing 9 of 99 articles

Manufacturing Regulations Simplified for Safety and Efficiency

29 Jul 2025 | 1 year ago | 1830 views

Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden is consulting with manufacturers, such as wood processors, bakers, and millers, to simplify machine guarding rules and review exposure standards in the manufacturing sector. The proposed changes aim to align standards with real-world risks and international benchmarks, addressing concerns about clarity and compliance burden. The review will also consider updating Workplace Exposure Standards for substances like wood dust and flour dust to ensure practicality and alignment with safety measures, aiming to reduce costs and stress for businesses.

Tags: Brooke van Velden manufacturers Workplace Relations and Safety Minister wood processors bakers millers WorkSafe inspectors Health and Safety in Employment Regulations Workplace Exposure Standards Mr Seymour

Building Better: Minister Van Velden Spearheads Productivity Boost in Construction Sector

28 Jul 2025 | 1 year ago | 1689 views

Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden is consulting with builders and construction professionals to simplify scaffolding rules and streamline the prequalification process, aiming to align them better with the level of risk. The current complex rules have led to overuse of costly scaffolding, impacting construction productivity and increasing building time and costs. Van Velden is also addressing the frustration with prequalification systems and overlapping duties in the construction sector, aiming to provide clearer guidance and improve efficiency.

Tags: Brooke van Velden Workplace Relations Safety Minister construction sector scaffolding rules productivity WorkSafe prequalification systems overlapping duties Approved Code of Practice

New Auckland Central Police Station Enhances Public Safety and Crime Reduction Efforts

17 Jul 2025 | 1 year ago | 1848 views

The new Auckland central police station enhances police visibility and accessibility to the public, retail sector, and business community in the city center, addressing community demands for a central police presence. Minister Mark Mitchell emphasizes the importance of public safety and highlights the positive impact of the 51 inner city beat officers in reducing crime rates, with notable decreases in victimizations, robbery, and theft. The collaboration between police officers, stakeholders, and volunteers has contributed to these results, and the central police base is expected to further improve crime response and community safety in Auckland.

Tags: Auckland central police station police visibility accessibility public safety Mark Mitchell law and order agenda police officers inner city beat officers crime reduction community involvement

New Zealand's Employment Relations Bill: Boosting Business Confidence and Worker Opportunities

15 Jul 2025 | 1 year ago | 2796 views

Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden applauds the passage of the Employment Relations Amendment Bill, emphasizing its significance in fostering business confidence and employment opportunities. The bill will now undergo review by the Education and Workforce Select Committee to gather public feedback on proposed changes. Key provisions of the legislation aim to clarify employment arrangements, simplify the grievance process, and enhance flexibility in negotiations between employers and employees.

Tags: Brooke van Velden Workplace Relations Safety Minister Employment Relations Amendment Bill New Zealand businesses workers contracting arrangements personal grievance process Select Committee genuine contracting relationships

New Zealand Minister Proposes Safer Online Gambling Bill, Sets Stricter Rules for Operators

15 Jul 2025 | 1 year ago | 1790 views

Minister Brooke van Velden's Bill to regulate New Zealand's online gambling market passed its first reading in Parliament, aiming to protect players and ensure safer gambling practices. The Bill allows for up to 15 online gambling licences to be auctioned, with strict criteria for companies to meet, including harm prevention strategies and compliance history. The Department of Internal Affairs will enforce the new regulations, with fines of up to $5 million for rule violations, and public submissions on the Bill are encouraged as it moves to the select committee stage.

Tags: Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden Bill online gambling New Zealand player safety harm minimisation regulatory system Department of Internal Affairs licensed operators

New Employment Law Allows Employers to Deduct Pay During Partial Strikes for Fairer Bargaining

25 Jun 2025 | 1 year ago | 1974 views

The Government has passed a change to the Employment Relations Act that reinstates the ability for employers to make pay deductions during partial strikes – making the system fairer for all, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden announced today. “These changes will help both employers and unions to return to the bargaining table and restores the law to what it was before the previous government removed this option in 2018. “I acknowledge the right of workers to strike in support of their collective bargaining claims, the right to strike remains,” says Ms van Velden.

Tags: Brooke van v Defence Employment relations act Workplace relations and safety

New board members appointed to the Health Quality & Safety Commission

18 Jun 2025 | 1 year ago | 3737 views

Health Minister Simeon Brown has today announced three new board appointments to the Health Quality & Safety Commission. The Health Quality & Safety Commission (HQSC) is a Crown entity responsible for improving quality and safety across the health and disability systems within New Zealand. “I am very pleased to welcome Dr Peter Watson, Taima Campbell, and Clare Perry to the HQSC board,” Mr Brown says.

Tags: Andrew connolly Aotearoa clinical trials trust Brownsc Campbell Cancer research trust new zealand Clare perry Clinical governance committee for Forte health ltd Hauraki health consulting ltd Health new zealand Health practitioners disciplinary tribunal Health quality & safety commission Jennifer parr Ministry of health New zealand Peter watson Simeon brown Taima campbell

New Bill to boost labour market flexibility

16 Jun 2025 | 1 year ago | 1979 views

Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says amendments to the Employment Relations Act will improve labour market flexibility and help businesses to grow, innovate, and employ with confidence and certainty. “Today I’m announcing the introduction of the Employment Relations Amendment Bill to Parliament, marking a key milestone in this Government’s efforts to help New Zealand businesses employ or contract with confidence and create more and better opportunities for workers,” says Ms van Velden. The changes give effect to several ACT–National Coalition Agreement commitments, including to provide greater certainty for contracting parties.

Tags: Agreement Brooke van veld Coalition Employment court Employment relations act Employment relations amendment bill Employment relations authority National New zealand Relations and safety

Increases to paid parental leave rates to help families

15 Jun 2025 | 1 year ago | 1949 views

New parents can expect more support to take time away from work to care for their children from 1 July, with an increase to the maximum weekly rate of paid parental leave up from $754. 87 to $788. 66 per week, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden announced today.

Tags: Brooke van velden Employment Employment new zealand Paal leave Place relations and safety Protection act