Levy planned for unsafe employers

By KEVIN TAYLOR

An ACC levy penalty on unsafe employers is being studied by the Labour Department and ACC as a way of improving workplace health and safety.

Department ministerial briefing papers released yesterday also raise the idea of advertising to change attitudes to workplace safety.

The levy is one of two proposals being worked on by the department and Accident Compensation Corporation to "motivate" employers.

The levy would apply to "poorly performing employers", the papers say.

Current ACC methods mainly suit bigger businesses by providing levy discounts for good health and safety practices, or allowing employers to manage workplace injuries and rehabilitation themselves, says the briefing.

The other proposal being studied is a discount on the ACC levy of well-performing self-employed business people.

Business New Zealand chief executive Simon Carlaw said the prospect of an ACC levy penalty was news to him and was concerning.

"What will be the criteria for 'poorly performing'?" he asked.

"It certainly would be worse if, once again, employers are presented with a proposal that was all but set in concrete."

The papers also suggest the Government should consider "social marketing" of workplace health and safety issues - similar to advertising aimed at changing the behaviour of dangerous drivers.

But the papers say changing the attitude of employers is "more complex" and would involve convincing them of the social and economic benefits of taking responsibility for the health, safety and wellbeing of their staff.

A Labour Department spokeswoman said the social marketing idea was a long-term proposal and would be a "hearts and minds thing".

Tougher workplace rules are already on the way.

The Health and Safety in Employment Amendment Bill was reported to Parliament from a select committee before the election, but is yet to be passed.

It extends the coverage of the law, boosts maximum fines five-fold, explicitly recognises workplace stress and fatigue, and increases the participation of staff in safety management.

The bill has proved controversial, with business groups and some lawyers criticising its punitive measures and questioning what the definitions of stress and fatigue will be.

At the same time, the Council of Trade Unions has called for the bill to be passed urgently in the face of a rising number of workers killed on the job.