Safety law passes first reading in New Zealand
Legislation to introduce tighter controls on health and safety in mining has passed its first reading in New Zealand’s Parliament, ONE News reported.
The Health and Safety (Pike River Implementation) Bill was drafted after recommendations from the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the mining disaster.
If agreed it will see the creation of a new agency, WorkSafe New Zealand, which will support health and safety in the country’s mines.
The bill enables the transfer of relevant staff and assets from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment to WorkSafe New Zealand in time for its December start-up.
The Bill also amends the Health and Safety in Employment Act and replaces the Mines Rescue Trust Act.
Key proposals in the bill would include requirements that all mining operations have a documented worker participation system that covers all workers at a mine. It would strengthen the functions and powers of site health and safety representatives, while ensuring this does not unduly interfere in day-to-day mining operations. It would enable the appointment of industry-wide health and safety representatives and it would extend coverage of the Mines Rescue Service to include underground metalliferous mining and tunnels that are longer than 150 metres; and updating legislation to better reflect the service’s functions.