MEDIA RELEASE -
6 June 2012
Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson has announced the membership
of an independent taskforce that will undertake the first
wide-ranging strategic review of the workplace health and
safety system in 20 years.
“New Zealand’s workplace death and injury rates
are not improving and are poor in comparison to countries like
Australia and the United Kingdom,” Ms Wilkinson says.
“The Government is taking action to ensure we get better
results and see a 25 per cent reduction in workplace deaths and
serious injuries by 2020.
“In addition to boosting workplace health and safety
funding by $37 million in Budget 2012, we are making sure the
current health and safety system is fit for purpose.”
The Taskforce will be chaired by Robert Jager, Chairman of
Shell in New Zealand and General Manager of Shell Todd
Services. Other members are Mavis Mullins, Director at Paewai
Mullins Shearing; Michael Cosman, Managing Director of Impac
Services; Paula Rose, former National Manager Road Policing;
William Rosenberg, Policy Director/Economist for the Council of
Trade Unions; and Paul Mackay, Manager Employment Relations at
Business New Zealand.
It will review whether the overall workplace health and safety
system – including legislation, regulation, incentives
and enforcement – is working effectively to reduce
workplace injury and death.
Ms Wilkinson says the taskforce will recommend a package of
practical measures to the Government in December.
“Our health and safety legislation is now 20 years old.
This review is timely, particularly with the rebuild in
Canterbury gearing up, and the Royal Commission into the events
at Pike River due to report back in September.
“The taskforce members are a balance of business and
worker interests, along with specialist health and safety
practitioners.
“There will be public consultation as part of the review
and I expect the taskforce to report back to me with their
recommendations by the end of this year.”
Biographies of Taskforce Members
Rob Jager is Chairman of the Shell Companies in New Zealand
and General Manager, Shell Todd Services. Rob currently also
chairs the Business Leaders’ Health and Safety Forum. Rob
has over 30 years’ experience in the oil and gas industry
in a variety of technical, project, operational, business,
management, and governance roles both locally and overseas. In
his current role at Shell, Rob is fully accountable for all
aspects of both personal and process safety and has been
providing visible leadership in these critical areas.
Mavis Mullins is Director of Paewai Mullins Shearing Limited,
where she is involved in health and safety issues in the
workplace, strategic planning and new business development.
Mavis has strong connections in rural and farming communities,
and is currently involved in hands on roles both in farming
operations and in providing governance for rural and farming
organisations.
Michael Cosman has worked in the health and safety field for
33 years, the majority of which has been in a regulatory role.
This includes 25 years in operational, managerial and strategic
roles with the HSE (UK) and three years with the Department of
Labour as National Operations Manager and Chief Advisor. He is
currently Managing Director of Impac Services and has
experience as a consultant in the private sector. Michael also
has experience in working with a number of international health
and safety jurisdictions.
Paula Rose is a consultant whose experience in health and
safety includes over four years as the Police lead on road
safety. Paula has held leadership roles within the Police,
worked with partner agencies, reviewed the previous Road Safety
Strategy to 2010, developed and implemented Safer Journeys, New
Zealand’s Road Safety Strategy 2010-2020 as well as the
Safer Journeys Action Plan.
William Rosenberg is Policy Director/Economist at the New
Zealand Council of Trade Unions (NZCTU), whose affiliates
represent 350,000 workers. William will reflect the
perspectives of the NZCTU and its affiliates in relation to
both policy and practice regarding health and safety.
Paul Mackay has nearly 30 years’ experience in the areas
of health and safety and employment relations. He is currently
Manager of Employment Relations Policy at Business New Zealand,
following employment relations roles for Carter Holt Harvey
Ltd, Transpower, the State Services Commission and MAF.
The detailed Terms of Reference for the review are available
at: http://www.osh.govt.nz/strategic-review/tor.shtml
ENDS