Extractives Industry Advisory Group appointed in New Zealand

A highly experienced group of extractives industry experts has been appointed to provide advice to the WorkSafe New Zealand Board on the implementation of the new regulatory framework for mining and tunnelling.

WorkSafe NZ Board Chair, Professor Gregor Coster said new mining health and safety regulations and a number of amendments to the Health and Safety in Employment Act came into force in December last year and together they create a new regulatory framework for health and safety in the extractives industry.

“The WorkSafe New Zealand Act mandates the establishment of advisory bodies, and this was a priority sector for us.

“The Board wants a way of independently overseeing the effectiveness of the regulatory framework and WorkSafe NZ operations to ensure that what we believe is right is actually meeting the terms of the regulatory environment and, just as importantly, the needs of the sector,” he said.

“The Extractives Industry Advisory Group will be tasked with advising the Board on the effectiveness of the new regulatory environment, the effectiveness of WorkSafe NZ in administering and enforcing the regulations and their governing Act and to be a conduit between WorkSafe NZ and the industry,” Professor Coster said.

The Extractives Industry Advisory Group will be chaired by Gavin Taylor, who was seconded to the former Department of Labour from the Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines to assist in the setting up of New Zealand’s High Hazards Unit. He is currently consulting to his former employer in Queensland.

Working with Taylor will be 11 other industry experts including operators, academics and union representatives.

“This is a very experienced and strong group and they will provide valuable insights for the Board as we strive to bring down the terrible death and injury toll in this country by 25% or more by 2020,” Professor Coster said