IAN LAIRD argues that the concept of safety culture has been hijacked by H&S practitioners, who have twisted it into a circular definition of little use.

Veronique Bond, 38, was killed in March 2015 when a truck carrying shingle reversed over her at a road works site near Te Kauwhata. She was riding her motorcycle on her way to class at Manukau Institute of Technology. PETER BATEMAN talked to her husband Neil Bond.

Six hundred people packed into the room for this year’s awards. PETER BATEMAN was there and scribbled these notes on a napkin.

Occupational medicine isn’t as prominent in the H&S system as it used to be. JACKIE BROWN-HAYSOM monitors the health of the profession.

They say if you want something done you should ask a busy person. JACKIE BROWN-HAYSOM talks to the formidably busy recently departed chair of WorkSafe New Zealand.

Our increasingly automated future poses numerous challenges, including in health & safety. JOEL HAIGHT suggests the solution lies in taking an adaptive approach.

GANESH SELVARAJ and AARON LAVACK on the “big data” analytics techniques that WorkSafe NZ is using to enable more informed decision-making for the regulator and for individual businesses.

We increasingly need to work alongside robots, in industry and in personal care and service scenarios. OTTO GORNEMANN outlines the safety challenges of collaborative work.

PETER BATEMAN meets Sandra Johnston, who has received a lifetime achievement award for her work in psychological trauma in many workplaces, including after the Canterbury earthquakes.

JACKIE BROWN-HAYSOM explores a critical work-related safety issue, and finds the HSW Act doesn’t really address it.

TALI WILLIAMS says changing two numbers would change the H&S game in retail: wage rates and staffing.

The retail sector is complex due to the variety of work environments and the high numbers of people exposed to risks, says SCOTT FISHER.

The 2018 edition of our two-day conference again attracted more than 500 attendees. PETER BATEMAN jotted down some edited highlights.

GREG DEARSLY says the recently released draft H&S strategy offers much to consider in terms of SMEs, procurement, vulnerable workers, and professional qualifications.

Why have specific duties defined in legislation if the regulator can elect not to use them? GRANT NICHOLSON, OLIVIA WELSH and RICHARD MONIGATTI illustrate this question with a recent case.

Family members of people killed at work have been found to suffer significant mental health issues in the years that follow, reports LYNDA MATTHEWS.

PHILIP ALDRIDGE urges us to be a step ahead in thinking, learning and applying best practice in workplace health and safety.

When you see someone tackle a task unsafely, asks SHERYL DAWSON, do you stand and laugh at their inventiveness and audacity or do you intervene?