WorkSafe acknowledges the findings and recommendations in the independent Strategic Baseline Review commissioned by the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety and the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE).

The review sought to provide assurance around WorkSafe’s management of resources, insights to further inform our planning, and support MBIE in its advice to the Minister on WorkSafe’s funding needs.

The review found no significant issues with the way WorkSafe undertakes its regulatory role and confirmed that appropriate regulatory systems and process are in place to deliver our core regulatory functions.

Our response to the review is captured in ‘The Way Forward’, which outlines our aspiration to dramatically improve workplace health and safety in New Zealand.

Find out more about The Way Forward:

Outcomes-oriented

The Way Forward focuses on integrating health and safety into the way work is done to achieve our three main outcomes for workplaces in Aotearoa – healthy work, safe work and equitable outcomes – and to embed a wellbeing approach across the public sector. This is reflected in our work in applying cultural and upstream lenses in the forestry sector and aiming for health and safety outcomes in the construction industry.

Really responsive approach

We are adopting a more nuanced approach to regulatory decision-making by developing an in-depth understanding of upstream accountabilities, business models, supply chains and contracting arrangements, in addition to traditional enforcement and education activities. We used this in our response to the Whakaari/White Island tragedy and insights-driven approach to achieving improvements in workplace health and safety.

Reviews are a useful way of getting an independent view of how we’re doing and identify areas for improvement. This helps us in our mahi as New Zealand’s primary health and safety regulator and ensures we are well-placed to deliver on our role and functions to achieve better outcomes for Aotearoa.

WorkSafe is focused on actioning the recommendations of the review and making sure we are as efficient and effective as we can be.

We will continue to take a balanced approach to our regulatory activity, using traditional education, compliance and enforcement tools combined with risk-based, systems-oriented approaches that address upstream factors, address organisational culture and increase worker participation.

Find out more about the Strategic Baseline Review from the MBIE website(external link)