A new focus on workplace health, safety and wellness

Trauma and grief support agency Skylight is delighted that the government is establishing a new crown entity, Worksafe NZ, in recognition of the importance of supporting employees’ health, safety and wellbeing at work. 

Worksafe NZ, which commences operations on 16 December, will aim to reduce New Zealand’s workplace injury and death toll by 25 percent by 2020.

The timely launch of Skylight’s brand new handbook Managing trauma, loss and grief in the workplace, produced in association with employee assistance programme provider EAPworks, will assist organisations in the development and management of their health, safety and wellbeing culture.

This essential handbook has been written for employers, business owners, and board trustees, senior executives, HR, managers and supervisors and addresses the significant challenges of trauma, loss and grief in the workplace and their implications on productivity. 

The handbook is complemented by a high quality Professional Development Workshop which is relevant to workplace leaders at all levels.

Following the establishment of Worksafe NZ, a new Health and Safety Reform Bill will be introduced into Parliament next year. This new legislation will make employers responsible for ensuring the work environment is safe and healthy for their employees, and for any visiting stakeholders. Workplace leaders will have an obligation to try to prevent work-related harm – including stress, which can cause physical, mental or emotional ill-health – among their staff. 

It’s critically important that workplaces take action now to implement good practices in advance of this new legislation and Skylight’s handbook, which has just been endorsed by Safeguard magazine, will help to achieve this.