IN THIS ISSUE

1) ACC WorkSafe Cycle Series: Step 3 - Action
2) Bullying in the Workplace
3) NEW - Approved Code of Practice on Infant Feeding
4) REVISED - Approved Code of Practice for Cranes - Third edition
5) Latest Department of Labour Hazard Alerts / Hazard Management Bulletins
6) That's Got to Hurt!

1) ACC WorkSafe Cycle Series: Step 3 - Action

This article is part of a series of articles explaining the steps and activities involved in the ACC WorkSafe Cycle. Last month we covered step 2 - "Plan" and next month we will cover step 1: Review.
If you would like to review our previous newsletters please visit: https://www.securo.co.nz/newsletters.php

Roadmap to Reducing Injury & Illness in the workplace

ACC WorkSafe Cycle Series - Article 2/5

Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) created the ACC WorkSafe Cycle to promote and assist businesses to implement and to provide a continuous process of improvement concerning Health & Safety in your workplace. The ACC WorkSafe Cycle can be set up to support Health & Safety systems needed to keep workplaces safe.
The three steps to keep you working in a process of continuous improvement are review, plan & action. The action step includes all the key activities of a comprehensive Health & Safety programme. At each step and in each key activity listed under action commitment and communication are essential.

To implement the cycle in your workplace it is ideal to start at step 2: Plan.

At each of the three steps and in each key activity listed under Action, Commitment and Communication are vital.

The Action step requires developing, implementing and monitoring the following systems and practices:

• Hazard management
  To successfully manage hazards you also need to identify and manage various factors that contribute to harm in the workplace.
• Incident reporting and investigation
  Investigating injuries, incidents and near misses enables the identification and control of hazards to prevent similar events in the future.
• Training and supervision
  All workers must be informed of their own - and their managers' - responsibilities for health and safety in the workplace. Workers must have specific knowledge of the hazards to which they are exposed through workplace procedures, environment, equipment and materials.
• Employee participation
  The most successful safety management programmes invariably encourage active employee involvement.
• Emergency readiness
  You are legally required to have an effective general emergency plan to manage all types of emergency likely to occur within any part of your business operations. Emergencies could include fires, earthquakes, floods, bomb threats, chemical spills or explosions, aggressive colleagues or members of the public and medical emergencies. A key part of emergency readiness is first aid.
• Contractor management
  Contractors working on site can often disrupt normal work patterns and bring in new hazards.
• Injury management
  It's good for business and good for your workers to make sure that injured workers are actively involved in a rehabilitation process that results in an early, safe and lasting return to work.
  

At this stage evaluation data also needs to be collected for a successful implementation for activities to be recognised, and opportunities for improvement can be identified when the cycle is to be reviewed again.

This article is a part of a series of articles explaining the steps and activities involved in the ACC WorkSafe Cycle. Next month we will be covering step 1: Review.

For more information on ACC WorkSafe Cycle - Step 3: Action, please visit here.

2) Bullying in the Workplace

Massey University conducted a research on ‘Understanding Stress & Bullying in New Zealand Workplace' subsidised by the Department of Labour.

The research sounds a warning to employers that they need robust practices and procedures to deal with workplace bullying issues.

Under the Health & Safety in Employment Act 1992, employers have a duty to provide a Healthy and Safe workplace, including a workplace in which bullying is not tolerated.

The research highlighted the need for a Department of Labour Fact Sheet to be developed, and can be found at http://www.osh.govt.nz/publications/factsheets/bullying.html.

3) NEW - Approved Code of Practice on Infant Feeding

At the end of March this year the Department of Labour released "The Code of Practice on Infant Feeding".

The code has been developed to help employers understand their obligations to provide unpaid breaks and/or facilities for employees who wish to breastfeed their infants or express milk during working hours.

The Code provides useful guidance on the range of factors an employer can consider when negotiating a breastfeeding arrangement. It gives practical ideas or factors to consider such as health and safety, facilities, resources and space for breastfeeding employees.

The new code can be found at: http://ers.govt.nz/parentalleave/infantfeeding/code/

Supporting information and resources are available at: http://ers.govt.nz/parentalleave/infantfeeding.html

4) REVISED - Approved Code of Practice for Cranes - Third edition

Recently the Department of Labour has revised the ‘Approved Code of Practice for Cranes - Including the Design, Manufacture, Supply, Safe Operation, Maintenance and Inspection of Cranes - Third edition'.

In consultation with the Cranes Association of New Zealand, the third edition was developed.

The revised code contains the following main changes from the previous edition:

• Unit standard for training in the industry;
• Truck loader cranes are now covered; and
• Clarification and expansion of the requirements around design verification.
  

The revised code can be found at: http://www.osh.govt.nz/order/catalogue/10.shtml

5) Latest Department of Labour Hazard Alerts / Hazard Management Bulletins
- (previously known as Incident / Bulletins / Accident Alerts)
for more details see DoL website: http://www.osh.govt.nz/order/catalogue/522.shtml

6) That's Got to Hurt!

Each issue we feature a safety related photo. Just for fun we'd like to receive your ideas for an appropriate caption. We will publish the best caption received in the next issue. Good luck!

Please send your captions to us here. Re: That's Got to Hurt, or fax them to 09 307 3360

Previous Month's Photo:

Winning Caption:

"Just stand there & hold the aerial while I go down to the truck & get the screws".

Mike Cook

Thames Valley Insurance Ltd

This Month's Photo: