NZ Targets 10,000 Safety Reps

New Zealand unions are aiming to have 10,000 safety reps elected across all industries and have them trained up on a raft of new health and safety laws when they take affect from May 5.

The tougher laws require all New Zealand employers with more than 30 workers to involve them and their unions in developing health and safety systems.

Similar to the laws recently established in NSW, workers across all industries now have the right to elect safety reps to represent them in health and safety matters and must be consulted about any changes affecting wellbeing at work.

The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions says international experience has proved best results come from workplaces with elected, trained health and safety reps.

"Research from around the world shows that when workers and their unions are actively involved in health and safety, fewer workers are injured and fewer workers die," the Council says. "That's what the union campaign is all about."

To read more about NZ's new laws visit: http://www.union.org.nz

To access NSW Labor Council's guides for NSW safety reps please, click here.

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Last modified: Tuesday, 15-Nov-2005 20:37:35 EST