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The ‘Health and Safety Guide: Good Governance for Directors’ is developed by WorkSafe and the Institute of Directors, in an effort to provide practical advice on how officers can exercise due diligence in relation to health and safety, through their governance role.

Recently, WorkSafe and the Institute of Directors (IoD) published an updated version of this guide. The new changes appear to focus on the role that strong health and safety practice plays in the general performance of an organisation.

Governance Requirements

As per the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA), Officers have due diligence obligations which require proactive steps to ensure the PCBU complies with its obligations. WorkSafe can prosecute an officer, including directors and trustees, individually in addition to the PCBU where their failure results in the PCBU not meeting its duties.

WorkSafe has emphasised that this pursuit of ‘upstream influencers’ should not be taken lightly, as highlighted by the recent prosecution of consultancy firm, Safe Business Solutions Limited. WorkSafe’s widening focus highlights the importance of ensuring all Officers, senior staff and management are aware of their own and the organisation’s health and safety obligations.

How we can help

All officers, executives, and senior management should be aware of their own, and the organisations health and safety obligations. This is to ensure they are meeting their individual obligations of due diligence, but also to ensure the PCBU is meeting its obligations. We are able to offer a tailored Support Package, which includes the following:

Board Support

• Attendance at meetings, tailored solutions for the organisation, review and refine health and safety board reporting and agenda, and provide best practice advice as issues arise.

Training

• Focused training for executives on due diligence obligations, legislative updates, case examples, need to know post-accident response tips and mental wellbeing. Each topic is a one-hour training session delivered virtually or in person.

Legal updates

• Regular tailored email summaries of recent legal developments (legislation and case law).

Fixed-price offerings on policies

Get in touch with one of our team to discuss a tailored Board Support Package and fixed price for your organisation.

Disclaimer: We remind you that while this article provides commentary on employment law, health and safety and immigration topics, it should not be used as a substitute for legal or professional advice for specific situations. Please seek legal advice from your lawyer for any questions specific to your workplace.

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