What’s missing in the New Zealand workplace health and safety system?

Abstract

This article was initially planned to mark the 50^th anniversary of the UK Health and Safety at Work etc Act which came into force on 31 July 1974. It was expanded to help respond to consultation by the New Zealand Government on experience with the New Zealand Act of the same name.

I briefly review aspects of system thinking and then report on the origins of the New Zealand Health and Safety at Work Act 2015. Experience from New Zealand, the UK and Australia is used to help suggest some areas where there are gaps in the workplace health and safety system.