Changes to the Health and Safety system announced by Tauranga MP Simon Bridges yesterday will be the hot topic of discussion at Club Mount Maunganui in October.

New Zealand Institute of Safety Management Bay of Plenty branch manager, Phil Sexton, says Simon and other key speakers will talk about the various changes in health and safety and the consequent impact they will have on businesses on October 11.

'In line with the Government's announcements yesterday morning concerning the major changes in the way health and safety is governed in New Zealand, the BOP branch of the NZISM will be running a half day seminar in October to explain the consequences to general business.”

Read here for more details about the seminar in October.

Labour Minister Simon Bridges announced 'the most significant reform of New Zealand's workplace health and safety system in 20 years” yesterday.

'The Working Safer package represents a major change in New Zealand's approach to meet our target of reducing the workplace injury and death toll by 25 per cent by 2020,” says Simon.

'The reforms recalibrate our approach so we are working smarter, targeting risk and working together to improve performance in workplace health and safety.”

He says Working Safer addresses the recommendations of the Independent Taskforce on Workplace Health and Safety, which provided Government with a solid foundation to work from.

'We will improve the legislation and back it up with clear guidelines and enforcement, and investment in a strong new regulator WorkSafe New Zealand.

'But achieving the target is not something we can do alone. It also requires leadership and action from business and workers, working with government, sharing the responsibility and driving the solutions on the ground.”

The reform package includes an overhaul of the law, supported by clear, consistent guidelines and information for business on their requirements, more funding for WorkSafe New Zealand to strengthen enforcement and education and implement the changes, a focus on high risk areas.

A stronger focus on occupational harm and hazardous substances is also included in the package along with better coordination between government agencies, improved worker participation and stronger penalties, enforcement tools and court powers.