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NZ Manufacturer May 2015
DEVELOPMENTS
Don’t start a company unless it’s an obsession and something you love. If you have an exit strategy, it’s not an obsession. - Mark Cuban
What the upcoming health and safety law changes mean to manufacturers Kevin Mckillop of health and safety development organisation Workbase explains what the upcoming health and safety law changes mean for manufacturing businesses and how to make sure your business will comply. Strengthened health and safety regulations coming into force this year will increase the importance of making sure that employees and contractors know how to work safely. Directors, owners and managers (who are duty holders with influence and control over the business) will need to know about all of their business’s operational risks and hazards, and how they are being managed. Under the new regulations, duty holders will need to actively demonstrate that safety is a priority. They will also need to clearly identify health and safety responsibilities, verify the health and safety system is understood – and being correctly applied - by all managers, supervisors, frontline workers and contractors.
Greater employee and contractor involvement in risk and hazard identification and management will also be necessary, which will require employees and contractors to learn new health and safety language, knowledge and skills. Managers and supervisors will need to know how to give clear instructions, accurately describe desired safety behaviours, check that employees understand what they have been asked to do (or not do), and to communicate and coach for improvement when someone is not working safely. Under the new regulations, duty holders will need to: • Keep up to date about health and safety and good industry practice for manufacturing
• Understand the risks and hazards of the business operations • Make sure resources are available and used to manage the risks of work in the operation • Have ways to monitor the safety performance and management of the organisation • Know how you are complying with the duties and obligations of the person conducting the business or undertaking (PCBU) • Verify the availability and use of the resources and processes These new responsibilities may be challenging for many manufacturing businesses, particularly if a significant proportion of employees are not familiar with health and safety requirements and vocabulary, dislike
reading or have English as a second language. Did you know? It will no longer be enough to rely on tool box meeting instructions, posters and policies pinned on notice boards to involve and educate employees about good health and safety practice. Under the new law owners, managers and supervisors will need to make sure that employees know what they need to do – and why. Next time: What duty holders need to know – and how to get that information.
Open Polytechnic study opens up career opportunities With a high demand in New Zealand for qualified, skilled engineering graduates, Open Polytechnic provides a variety of study pathways to help those working in the industry with professional development. Flexible distance learning enables students in employment to enhance their careers through on-going learning and upskilling. Blair Falconer, who is completing his National Certificate in Electrical
Engineering (Advanced Trade) this year, says that he decided to study through Open Polytechnic to not only help him grow in his current role, but also give him the skills to develop into a more senior role as his career
progresses. In his busy position as wind technician and electrician at Meridian Energy’s West Wind wind farm in Makara, Wellington, distance learning was the best option for him. “I don’t have to attend class so I have more time and can plan to do study on specific days. It is flexible and I can do it when it suits me, during my lunch breaks or after work,” he says. “I used the online campus for submitting most of my units. It’s very easy to use, and if I leave my books at work, I can still access the online learning material from home. The learning material is easy to read, with plenty of diagrams and photos.” Blair is looking to study further, with a solid foundation in Advanced Trade. “I think the National Certificate in Electrical Engineering (Advanced Trade) is a good taster in a lot of different areas, not just in electrical engineering, you also cover health and safety, drawing, accounting and electrical legislation.” Open Polytechnic Head of School of
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Engineering, Trades and Construction, Christo Potgieter, says there are many study options for those looking to develop their engineering careers. As well as the National Certificate in Electrical Engineering (Advanced Trade), Open Polytechnic also offers a New Zealand Diploma in Engineering (Mechanical) and the Bachelor of Engineering Technology. “Our Bachelor of Engineering Technology is offered with the University of Southern Queensland, where students can gain overseas exposure during their block courses. The degree offers specialisations in Electrical/Electronic, Mechanical, and Civil Engineering.” “Afterwards graduates can work as Technologists all over the world and can be admitted as Engineering Technologists with the Institution of Professional Engineers in New Zealand,” says Christo. For more information about studying Engineering with Open Polytechnic, visit openpolytechnic.ac.nz/engineering or call 0508 865 327 today.