Loss of health & safety committee blow to workers

new-zealand-council-of-trade-unions

Mon Jul 13 2009 12:00:00 GMT+1200 (New Zealand Standard Time)

Loss of health & safety committee blow to workers

Monday, 13 July 2009, 2:52 pm
Press Release: New Zealand Council of Trade Unions

CTU media release
Monday 13 July

Loss of health and safety committee a blow to NZ workers

Research on the health and safety of New Zealand’s workforce has taken a huge blow with the disestablishment of the National Occupational Health and Safety Advisory Committee (NOHSAC). The committee will publish its final reports today.

CTU President Helen Kelly said: “The Committee was disestablished on the 30th of June with no Government announcement providing reasons or who was responsible for the decision.”

NOHSAC was established in 2003 to provide independent advice directly to the Minister of Labour on major occupational health and safety issues in New Zealand.

“The Committee’s independence was crucial so that research into the health and safety of workers was protected from economic or political conflicts of interest,” added Kelly.

The Committee advised the Minister on measures that would deliver the greatest benefit for the prevention of occupational injury and disease, and developed an evidence-based approach to occupational health and safety issues.

NOHSAC academics and professional researchers produced comprehensive reports to inform important policy issues affecting all workers. Research included the burden of occupational disease and injury, the economic and social costs and surveillance of occupational disease and injury, surveillance and control of workplace exposures, and a national profile of occupational health and safety in New Zealand.

NOHSAC will be releasing four final reports today. These reports are:

• The Evolving Work Environment in New Zealand: Implications for Occupational Health and Safety
• Work Relatedness of Occupational Disease and Injury: Implications for diagnosis, rehabilitation and compensation
• Occupational Health and Safety in Small Business
• Women’s Occupational Health and Safety in New Zealand.

ENDS

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