Issue 120 March/April 2010

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Feature stories

Under attack
Not enough is known about the scale of work-related violence and how to manage it, reports Jackie Brown-Haysom.

From the horse’s mouth
Chemical site inspections can be like opening a can of toxic worms, as test certifier Rex Alexander shares – with photos to prove it.

Asbestos fall-out
Mike Cosman says the health impacts of exposure to cancer-causing asbestos are yet to peak in New Zealand, and our regulations don’t reflect international best practice.

Industry first approach
To retain a market advantage, Douglas Manufacturing took on the challenge of submitting the first industry-prepared hazardous substances group standard. Toni Hipperson explains how.

People, public trust, profit
A keynote speaker at this year’s Safeguard National Health and Safety Conference, Dr Richard Fulwiler explains how a simple model can help make the case that H&S brings to business.

Safety Pipeline
Angela Gregory meets the top-to-bottom safety champions at the NZ Refining Company, who have successfully met the challenges of a major expansion.

Measure my dust
Massey University researchers are set to use real-time monitoring technology to assess peak exposures to wood dust. Mark Wagstaffe provides the background.

Council of consensus
Jackie Brown-Haysom places a magnifying glass on the Workplace Health and Safety Council.

Brief Items

The lawyer in the room
A lawyer is not always needed during DoL interviews after workplace accidents, but Paul White says for those planning to defend charges it’s best to get counsel involved from the start.

Don’t take your breath away
Tania Clifton-Smith says it’s not only the air that we breathe, but the amount we take in and how we do it, that is vital for good health at home and at work.

The southern NZISM
Nearly three years since its inception the Otago branch of the NZISM has taken hold in the deep south, says Alan Woolford.

Agenda for action
The recent review of the Workplace Health and Safety Strategy identified the need for a national action agenda. Kate Wilkinson comments.

Hi-Vis
David McBeth, Canterbury Spinners.

Incident investigation
Fall from height.

The Forum: feature question
Some of our staff play touch rugby at a park across the road in their lunch hour. One of them sprained an ankle recently while playing. What are our obligations if staff are doing activities like this during lunch?

Monkey Business: Vocational guidance
In which our anonymous columnist makes observations which may or may not pertain to the state of health and safety in New Zealand.

Work death toll for the year starting July 2009: 39
We list details of the most recent work fatalities investigated by DOL.

Prosecutions

O’Brien Logging Contractors Ltd
Yarrows (The Bakers) Ltd
McCain Foods (NZ) Ltd
Zealandia Horticulture
AW Fraser Ltd
Hawkins Construction Ltd
Ian Roebuck Crane Hire Ltd

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