Phil has a broad remit across WorkSafe. He heads groups with responsibilities as diverse as investigations into workplace harm incidents and proactive, educative assessments of thousands of businesses around the country each year.  The Energy Safety team and the High Hazards Unit which focuses on major hazard facilities, the extractives industry and the petroleum and geothermal sectors are also part of his leadership responsibilities. 

A number of the specialist services WorkSafe provides for stakeholders also fall under his management – particularly the Hazardous Substances regulation and Technical Programmes and Support teams. 

he describes his role this way: ‘I want New Zealand to do much better at workplace health and safety.  Our work with stakeholders to ensure better health and safety outcomes in their businesses is a critical element of building a better health and safety system in New Zealand.  We’re able to provide a host of very focused technical assistance through the specialist teams in my group.  The combination of the skills and the approach of all these teams is making a difference.”