|
|
|
|
Kia ora ,
|
|
Worker exposure to airborne contaminants without the appropriate health risk assessment and mitigation can lead to serious illness, including respiratory illness. These exposures can also compromise a worker’s ability to resist respiratory illnesses, including chronic illnesses.
Airborne contaminants hazardous to health can be in dust, fume, mist, vapour or gas form. Respiratory protective equipment (RPE) can protect workers from breathing these contaminants. See the story below about our updated RPE guidance.
A successful prosecution late last year of a company that exposed its workers to hazardous dust demonstrates that businesses need to take such health-related risks at work seriously. You can read more about the case below and check out new guidance to help assess and mitigate the risks.
Also in this issue:
- Reminder about working in hot conditions and protection from the sun when working outdoors
- Academic Chair in Health and Safety being sought
- Heads-up about mid-year hazardous substances regulations changes
- Hazardous substances calculator updated
- More workplace exposure standards consultation on the way
- WorkSafe’s Philippa Gibson on how to tackle airborne health risks
- Daniel Hummerdal talks about health and safety innovation
- Mental Health Foundation launches workplace mental health package
- New research reveals importance of wellbeing for younger farmers
- Ministry of Health to lead efforts to address health workforce wellbeing
- Improving worker health and addressing fatigue issues to improve safety
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Health risk controls added to hazardous substances calculator
|
|
If a workplace uses, manufactures, handles or stores hazardous substances the business must have an inventory of those substances.
Our online hazardous substances calculator lists the key requirements of the Hazardous Substances Regulations you need to put in place to manage the risks associated with the hazardous substances you work with.
The hazardous substances calculator now includes requirements to mitigate health risks to workers. This will raise business awareness of hazardous substances risks to worker health that they need to manage.
The calculator can also be used to prepare an inventory of the hazardous substances a workplace uses, manufactures, handles or stores.
We continually improve and update the calculator and welcome feedback. Recent updates include being able to rename and duplicate an inventory, and substances are now listed in alphabetical order rather than in the order they are entered.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|