A leading Tauranga employment lawyer is warning all New Zealanders to make health and safety a top priority in their workplace to avoid being held accountable under new legislation due to be passed later this year.
The Health and Safety Reform Bill, currently before a select committee, is the biggest shakeup of its kind in more than 20 years.
Sharp Tudhope Lawyers' Associate Shima Grice has made submissions on the Bill and on the draft health and safety regulations on behalf of Freight Logistics Action Group (FLAG) which represents the Bay of Plenty's freight, logistics, forestry, farming and agriculture sectors.
She said all New Zealanders needed to be aware of how the changes may affect them, not just some employees in particular industries.
"Every single workplace in New Zealand will be required to comply with the new health and safety model, so everyone will be affected," she said.