Chris, I agree with Peter that there are important nuggets in amongst the tortuous academic style
The self regulating system could be the growing ESG agenda from investors who want to know that boards have the right composition, strong ethical principles around human capital (aka people) and the wider environmental and sustainability issues.
I ran a webinar last week as part of the onepercentsafer.co.nz movement with Mike Bennett’s and George Adams on ESG and it’s potential impact. See https://www.blackrock.com/corporate/literature/publication/blk-commentary-engagement-on-human-capital.pdf

However the article is also correct that I don’t think WorkSafe or the other regulators have the current capability to address corporate governance issues which is why the only prosecutions I’m aware of involve small businesses with very hands on owner/ managers. IOD met with Phil Parkes just before Easter to discuss how we can raise the proactive as well as reactive engagement by WS and also possibly update the due diligence guidance that was issued in 2016.
I don’t think governance is a lost cause by any means but it is unrealistic to expect workers to hold directors to account without worker directors (another neo-liberal idea!) so it’s up to the other system stakeholders to exercise their influence.

Hi everyone, as an ex-POM now a kiwi for 15 years and Chair of NZISM I would comment as follows:
HASANZ has just completed the pipeline project looking at the whole marketplace and competency frameworks across its member organisations and confirms a huge and growing gap in both capacity and capability. It also notes that the number of accredited health and safety professionals is much lower than in the UK and probably Australia. Despite the HASANZ register being in operation for a couple of years there are less than 200 people on it who are able to objectively demonstrate their skills and experience against a recognised competency framework. It also notes the lack of training opportunities linked to these frameworks.
But there is hope! Victoria University has designed its new post graduate programmes against the INSHPO framework and hopefully other institutions will follow suit. Opportunities for less experienced people are being provided by the Government Health and Safety Lead intern programme and hopefully a similar private sector scheme will be available soon.
There is a whole day workshop next week introduced by the Minister to look further at the issues identified in the report and to develop solutions. https://www.hasanz.org.nz/site_files/11371/upload_files/HASANZmediarelease-LaunchofHASANZHealthandSafetyWorkforcePipelineReport.pdf?dl=1

From our perspective giving members a clear pathway, educational and CPD opportunities and an accreditation process supported by a mentoring programme goes some way towards addressing the concerns raised. The salary survey does show that those belonging to a professional body have an edge so come and join us

Hi John. I’ve done about 10 onsite assessments ( and no I’m not looking for more work!). I think if firms understand what SafePlus is and isn’t and approach it as a performance improvement tool rather than an audit it can be highly insightful. But you need to choose carefully what the assessor looks at , where they go and who they meet as this will influence the outcome. I’ve only had one client use the online assessment and they found the result a bit bland and self evident. They got a very different result from the on site assessment
Mike