"The climate is such that hazards can change overnight," says Bronwyn Muir, managing director of OnFarmSafety, which has just opened its head office on Broadway North in Stratford.
She is talking about the farming industry, and the importance of best practice when it comes to health and safety.
"Legislation is changing," says Bronwyn, adding that the Pike River tragedy has seen the Government take a closer look at health and safety in all industries.
Having identified the need for clear health and safety practices within the farming industry, Bronwyn has set up OnFarmSafety to offer farmers and farm workers guidance and support through the process of setting up and managing health and safety systems.
Bronwyn has worked as a shepherd and shearer as well as nowadays running 750 hectares of dairy, sheep and beef in the area with her husband. Bronwyn was also responsible for the establishment of the Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre in Taranaki. It is in this role, she says, that she saw the gap between what is taught, and what is actually done on the farm at times.