Safety Bill Sparks Debate

A new bill seeks to simplify health and safety rules for small businesses in New Zealand, but experts are sounding the alarm. The Safety at Work Amendment Bill would exempt companies with under 20 employees from managing minor risks, aiming to reduce confusion and costs. Yet, the New Zealand Institute of Safety Management warns this could backfire—small businesses make up 97% of the economy, and the bill won’t fix the nation’s injury rates or match global standards. Chair Mike Cosman, with 46 years in safety, calls the legislation confusing and counterproductive, creating a “dual speed system” that penalizes workers and undermines safety. He’s even urging politicians to defy party lines to stop it. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/530e2a8a06fcd459