Answers for schools on new Health & Safety rules

Answers for schools on new Health & Safety rules

It is very pleasing to see that the advice NZSTA has been offering to boards has now been confirmed by both the Ministry of Education and Worksafe, NZSTA President Lorraine Kerr says.

Scaremongering by health and safety ‘consultants’ playing on schools’ anxieties to drum up business was unhelpful, she said. While the penalties for non-compliance have changed, the vast majority of schools have always taken their health and safety responsibilities seriously and there has always been a requirement for schools to have good processes in place to ensure students’ and workers’ safety and wellbeing.

Government agencies are now coming to the party with information for school boards of trustees and principals on how the new Health and Safety at Work provisions will affect schools, in time for the start of the new school year. NZSTA has been working with the Ministry of Education to ensure that the information available to boards is consistent and complete.

Advice posted on MBIE’s Worksafe website this week on how the new legislation affects schools confirms earlier messages from NZSTA. Health and safety factsheets have also been published on the Ministry of Education website.

NZSTA is presenting workshops across the country to help boards of trustees understand the specific requirements of the legislation. Further information is also available on the NZSTA website at http://www.nzsta.org.nz/employer/employment-conditions/health-and-safety, and NZSTA advisers are available to help boards work through specific queries.

ENDS

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