Press release
NZITO wanting clarity about roles of WorkSafe in relation to education and training
7 August 2013
The New Zealand Industry Training Organisation is the designated Standard Setting Body for Occupational Health and
Safety unit standards and qualifications.
We welcome the Government response to the Independent Taskforce on Workplace Health and Safety that was released this
morning and believe a systemic approach will improve workplace health and safety outcomes for New Zealanders.
However, we are unclear about the role the new agency will play in setting standards and qualifications for Occupational
Health and Safety practitioners causing further delays to the review of OHS qualifications that commenced in 2011. The
review was placed on hold whilst the Taskforce and Government determined the future direction for OHS.
Our submission to the Taskforce suggested the Standard Setting Body role would be best accommodated by Government as
this is an important pan-sector role. Unfortunately signals around this matter are not explicit in the blueprint
released earlier today.
Included in the blueprint is the requirement for all qualifications at levels 1-6 on the New Zealand Qualifications
Framework to be embedded with OHS. This may require a significant amount of rework for Industry Training Organisations
who have been developing their own industry specific qualifications under NZQA’s mandatory review.
We urge Government and the new agency to engage with Industry Training Organisations and education providers to ensure
that workers and employers have the appropriate competencies to enhance workplace health and safety.
The use of consistent standards in a partnership framework will help achieve the stated aims of clearer, simpler and
lower compliance and we look forward to clarifications from the regulator.
-ENDS-