New Zealand’s poor health and safety performance, the Pike River coal mine tragedy, and an independent review of our country’s health and safety regime motivated the Government to start this reform. The new law is expected to come into force in late 2015.
Like anything in life, knowledge is power. If you have your health and safety compliance house in order, you won’t lose sleep.
Having access to Yoogo’s GPS technology could save you time & money in the long run
Otherwise there will be costs associated with the aftermath of an incident. Such as:
WorkSafe replaces the role formerly undertaken by OSH, the Department of Labour, and the Labour Group of the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment. WorkSafe has the ambitious target of reducing workplace fatalities and serious injuries by at least 25% by 2020.
So far there are no clearly prescribed duties that relate specifically to vehicle safety under the reform. Despite this, you and your business will both have obligations as there are clear risks associated with vehicle use. Breaching these obligations can result in prosecution by WorkSafe. It is expected WorkSafe will pay greater attention to vehicle safety compliance than in the past.
Almost all businesses and workers will have criminal liabilities under this new reform. The extent and likelihood of personal criminal liability depends on an individual’s role. Liability increases for the most senior business leaders, including Fleet Manager and company directors, who will have explicit duties under the reform as “officers”.
This would be the perfect time for any business that has a fleet to reassess the risks and hazards associated with the business’s activities in light of the reform’s tougher legislation.
Yes. At the very least, businesses should focus on risk management steps. Failure to do so could result in prosecution under the current or future health and safety regimes:
1. Training and competency assessments: Initial and ongoing driver training, supported by resources and updates, especially for specialist vehicle use (difficult terrain etc).
Yoogo offers driver training for any employees.
2. Monitoring workers: Monitoring mechanisms, especially to locate remote and/or solo workers, assess dangerous driving practices or manage fatigue.
Yoogo provides extensive telematics reporting, including stationary reports, stop reports, over-speed summary reports & geofence reports.
3. Vehicle compliance: Ensuring that vehicles are compliant with regards to warrants of fitness, licensing and registration, maintenance and servicing.
Yoogo provides electronically monitored compliance checks and takes care of all of this for you.
4. Safe driving policies: It is generally WorkSafe’s preference that safety practices are formally documented. Safe driving policies assist in reducing liability from WorkSafe but they also ensure that workers understand what is expected of them and what they need to communicate.
Yoogo is able to provide legally compliant bespoke. Furthermore Yoogo is working on specialist Health and Safety reporting which is looking to release later in the year driving policies, including management of driver’s licence restrictions, minimum expertise levels, medical checks, drug and alcohol policies, through its preferential client programme with Meredith Connell. For Yoogo clients this means savings on cost and sensible price certainty.
5. Fit for purpose assessments: Vehicle assessments regarding design and load suitability, necessary safety features, access & visibility.
Yoogo is able to arrange pre-purchase vehicle inspections, fit-for-purpose assessments and safety feature assessments. For example: whether reversing cameras are required.
