but I already need to finish my "The answer is capitalism, just ask Rasmussen" post for that one. — MattD2

Looking forward to this post already

So why can't we replicate this success in the workplace? — Steve H

With some trepidation I venture to suggest that reducing the road toll is a much narrower and therefore less complex challenge than reducing the work toll. The factors at play - safer cars, better road design, tougher driver licencing etc - are few. The risk environment - the roads, the vehicles - is relatively well defined.

Reducing the work toll is much more challenging because the work environments where people are exposed to risk are incredibly varied and the number of risk types is much greater.

If the road toll has now plateaued and is no longer declining, the next significant step presumably is isolation/elimination by removing people from the risk exposure. How? Reduce our dependence on cars and trucks and shift to the hugely safer (and environmentally better) modes of travel, namely public transport and rail freight.

(Consumer warning: these thoughts are out of my head and are unsupported by any academic research which may or may not exist to support them.)

FYI, the first charge laid under the HSW Act for "adverse conduct for a prohibited H&S reason" was laid by Maritime NZ late last year: https://www.maritimenz.govt.nz/public/news/media-releases-2021/20210812a.asp

Fair point. I've slightly tweaked the question.

On the use of vaseline, this from a WorkSafe prosecution just announced today:

“Flick Anticimex was advising workers with facial hair to use Vaseline to help the mask fit on their face. This is a myth which is deeply concerning in how widespread it is. Businesses and organisations must stop propagating this myth.

“Workers wearing RPE should be clean shaven. Even a small amount of stubble can prevent a proper seal from forming. Vaseline does nothing to help this, and workers will still be wearing RPE which hasn’t formed a seal based on incorrect information from their employer.”

Is WorkSafe's Life Shavers campaign getting any traction, do you think?

@Don Ramsay Enough of the teasers. We need the tale told in a paragraph.

This piece in Stuff by employment lawyer Susan Hornsby-Geluk is enlightening on this topic.

Great final line: "As a first tip to employers, do not ask for a show of hands as to who has been vaccinated in your staff meeting."

Whoops. My error now fixed.

Five-second video offering a rare illustration of the little known Reverse Swiss Cheese Effect, whereby the hazard gets past all the perfectly aligned holes but causes no harm.

Danish road safety video. (Warning: features Vikings)
Why can't more safety videos be like this?

Haven't had many responses to this one yet - don't be shy - the survey is anonymous!

I reckon many Forum members will have encountered work teams who manage to get the work done despite - not because of - the system they find themselves having work in.

Write a paragraph about it here.

I'd love to see an article by a lawyer — Chris Peace

Working on it ...

Good point. I think Olivia means SMEs only, ie: the type of small outfit that liquidates itself and then re-emerges trading under a new name, using the same equipment and owner/operator.

Outstanding pic! A velociraptor in every H&S office?

I was fortunate to be in Singapore in 2017 for a conference (those were the days!) and attended the signing of the INSHPO document.
I recall feeling dismayed to read the pages of description as INSHPO used hundreds of words to try to distinguish between 'practitioner' and 'professional'.
As Peter Blake might have said, does all this effort to define two supposed categories make the boat go faster? Does it prevent more worker illness and injury?
Happy to be enlightened.

I can't recall a New Zealand H&S practitioner being charged by WorkSafe, though it certainly could happen.
However here's an example from the UK last year where a consultant was fined a modest amount for giving poor advice.

@Philip Aldridge The results of this survey could be of interest here?

Measuring What Matters has been around for 4 or 5 years now but still worth a look.

While Forum members are looking for their phone policies, here is an earlier thread which could be of relevance.