National's Minister of Labour Tauranga MP Simon Bridges has acted on recommendations on Health and Safety reforms welcomed by business and unions.
As New Zealand is twice as dangerous than Australia and four times more dangerous than the UK to work in, these reforms are positive signs Kiwis are sick of our high death rate and serious harm accidents in the workplace.
Reforms introduce stronger penalties, the maximum is now $500,000 or two years imprisonment, and will increase to $600,000 or five years. As the penalty stands now, it has never improved our statistics, and the added $100,000 will probably make little difference.
I agree with Mr Bridges, we owe these reforms to the families of 75 people killed each year in NZ workplaces, with two in the last week. The word ‘family' rarely enters our thinking when we arrive at work. Until we can get into the heads of every worker that safety is ultimately our own responsibility, every act is our own choice, then accidents will continue.
How many of us have ever thought ‘I wonder what it would be like for my partner and children if I did not come home from work tonight' or ‘I wonder how my family would manage for the rest of their lives if I never ever made it home from work again'.
Legislation does nothing to put thoughts into our minds of how accidents affect our families - attitudes do.
The greatest protection we have from being injured is our own attitude.
Going home safely at night is not only the responsibility of Simon Bridges, companies and unions, it's the responsibility of every worker, even our partners to remind us we are needed at home.Our own attitude is far more powerful than the legislation in keeping us safe.

FJ Delahunty, Mt Maunganui.