{"id":21412,"date":"2025-01-14T07:58:01","date_gmt":"2025-01-13T18:58:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/siteconnect.io\/?p=21412"},"modified":"2026-02-12T08:54:14","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T19:54:14","slug":"actionable-solutions-to-improve-manufacturing-safety-in-nz","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/siteconnect.io\/nz\/blog\/actionable-solutions-to-improve-manufacturing-safety-in-nz\/","title":{"rendered":"Actionable Solutions to Improve Manufacturing Safety"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Jane Finlayson, the head of manufacturing at the Employers and Manufacturers Association, has shed light on one of the most dire issues in New Zealand’s battle for improved health and safety. An urgent need exists to solve a billion-dollar harm problem in the manufacturing industry<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Manufacturing safety affects many New Zealanders\u201410,000 injured workers each year\u2014and over $165 million in ACC claims annually. Workplace harm imposes over $1.23 billion on the economic well-being of New Zealand each year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The need to develop effective safety solutions has never been more imperative. These numbers bring into sharp focus the enormous physical, emotional, and economic toll workplace harm takes on individuals, families, and businesses. So, what is to be done?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, these challenges have solutions. With the implementation of actionable and evidence-based strategies, manufacturers can safeguard their workers and improve overall productivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Understanding the Scope of the Problem<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Drawing on valuable insights from the EMA’s Project Whakahaumaru<\/em><\/a> and introducing sound practices, this article explores how manufacturers might lead the charges to safer workplaces. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The harm arising from manufacturing is very specific: musculoskeletal injury, mental health issues, respiratory problems, and direct contact with hazardous materials. WorkSafe reports musculoskeletal disorders make up 27% of all manufacturing injuries, while mental health contributes another 17%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thirdly, there are groups that are even more at risk, such as older workers and young employees. SMEs also face a particularly daunting task since they typically do not have the resources to deal with complicated regulatory requirements or implement vast safety systems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where New Zealand’s workforce constitutes 10% of manufacturing, its coordinated health and safety response has always lagged compared to other industries such as construction and agriculture; hence, this calls for transformative action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Building a Culture of Safety<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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One of the key takeaways from Project Whakahaumaru<\/em> is the importance of fostering a safety-first culture within organisations. Manufacturing safety isn\u2019t just about meeting compliance requirements, it\u2019s about embedding safety into the core values of a business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jane Finlayson, EMA\u2019s Head of Manufacturing, emphasises the need for leadership-driven change:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis isn\u2019t just about compliance; it\u2019s about fostering a culture that prioritises the health and safety of every worker.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

For manufacturers, this means empowering leaders to model and enforce safety practices while engaging employees in ongoing dialogue about risks and prevention strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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6 Actionable Solutions for Safer Manufacturing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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1. Enhancing training and communication<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n