Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden has announced a set of changes to the health and safety system this week.

The Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 is now nearly 10 years old. The Government committed to reforming New Zealand’s health and safety laws and regulations in the ACT – National Coalition Agreement.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is seeking feedback on a range of options to control the risks from engineered stone and other sources of exposure to respirable crystalline silica.

All workers and their families deserve to have confidence that they will return home safe from work, including those in the engineered stone industry and sectors working with materials that contain crystalline silica.

There are health risks faced by people working with engineered stone and the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden is seeking feedback on options that would eliminate or reduce these risks.

In 2019, the previous Government decided to introduce a licensing system for work on commercial or industrial refrigeration, heat pump and air conditioning systems that use hazardous natural refrigerants.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is seeking feedback on a range of options to control the risks from engineered stone and other sources of exposure to respirable crystalline silica.

We want to start a conversation about New Zealand’s work health and safety regulatory system, particularly how you think it’s working now and what you think should change.

In May 2021 changes were proposed to the regulations that sit under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.

Tell us about your experiences with New Zealand’s work health and safety regulatory system.