Craig Smith has been appointed Independent Chair of HASANZ, replacing Shenagh Gleisner who has completed her term as Establishment Chair.
Craig is well known in the sector as he headed the secretariat for the Independent Taskforce on Workplace Health and Safety.He assisted with the establishment of WorkSafe NZ and, most recently, has been working with WorkSafe on its approach to its role as regulator.
"Over the past three years, I have focused on developing initiatives to reduce workplace deaths and serious injuries and improve occupational health outcomes," says Craig.
"HASANZ has an important part to play in reducing the serious harm in New Zealand's workplaces. If we lift the quality of professional advice, we can be a powerful influence on reducing harm."
He believes better access to that advice is also critical to achieving better outcomes.
"The national register of competent health and safety practitioners that HASANZ is currently developing will make good advice more easily available to businesses, workers and industry bodies," he says.
"The diverse range of organisations that are part of HASANZ gives us a massive reach into different sectors and workplaces," he says.
Working together with the business community, workers and government, we have a real opportunity to improve health and safety performance.
"The bottom line is that New Zealand's workplaces must be healthy and safe for the people who work there."
Craig is well known in the sector as he headed the secretariat for the Independent Taskforce on Workplace Health and Safety.He assisted with the establishment of WorkSafe NZ and, most recently, has been working with WorkSafe on its approach to its role as regulator.
"Over the past three years, I have focused on developing initiatives to reduce workplace deaths and serious injuries and improve occupational health outcomes," says Craig.
"HASANZ has an important part to play in reducing the serious harm in New Zealand's workplaces. If we lift the quality of professional advice, we can be a powerful influence on reducing harm."
He believes better access to that advice is also critical to achieving better outcomes.
"The national register of competent health and safety practitioners that HASANZ is currently developing will make good advice more easily available to businesses, workers and industry bodies," he says.
"The diverse range of organisations that are part of HASANZ gives us a massive reach into different sectors and workplaces," he says.
Working together with the business community, workers and government, we have a real opportunity to improve health and safety performance.
"The bottom line is that New Zealand's workplaces must be healthy and safe for the people who work there."