Those of you in the market to buy or sell property may have noticed the appearance of health and safety hazard registers at open homes over the last month. Some real estate agencies have been spooked by possible health and safety liabilities if open home attendees hurt themselves whilst inspecting a property.
I find it very odd that an average residential home could be a workplace health and safety risk.
The price of carbon credits in the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme has hit the $18 mark for first time since late 2011. Traders and some foresters well may be licking their lips in anticipation of another cash boost courtesy of this beleaguered government scheme. But is there still money to be made from carbon trading?
Recent media reports have highlighted the fears of school principals of being held personally liable for playground injuries under the new Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.
Some of the statements being made around the new workplace health and safety law, and how it applies to schools, are in our view just plain wrong. Some of these misconceptions are being made based on misinformation, and sometimes simply to create a good news headline.
The Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 comes into force on 4 April 2016. The new legislation does provide exemptions for volunteer organisations, associations and charities. If you are running a charity or a volunteer organisation it is important to know where you fit under the new workplace health and safety law.
There has been recent media coverage detailing the concerns of company directors around their responsibilities under the incoming Health and Safety at Work Act 2015. Peter Jackson has resigned as a director from Weta Workshop citing concerns over personal liability for breaches of health and safety legislation. School principals have opened up to the media stating they are considering cancelling outdoor activities, and are spending thousands of dollars to audit their health and safety procedures.
In our view these actions of company directors and school principals are based on unfounded fears and are unnecessary.