Logie Jan: Health and Safety Reform Bill — In CommitteeText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeLogie Jan: Health and Safety Reform Bill — In Committee[Sitting date: 25 August 2015. Volume:708;Page:6124. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]JAN LOGIE (Green): I would like to speak specifically about new section 264A “Workplace injury prevention action plan” in clause 249 in reference to a recommendation that is made at the beginning of the report in relation to domestic violence. Although sadly we have been expressing disappointment all the way through this debate on this point I would like to express some hope and gratitude for the clarification and the fact that it is set down in writing in this legislation that domestic violence is a workplace hazard in this country. I expect that the Workplace Injury Prevention Action Plan as referenced in new section 264A will take that into account and that hopefully we will see action by ACC and support through ACC-funded activities for a roll-out across the country of support for businesses to develop appropriate policies to enable workplaces to put systems in place to ensure that domestic violence is not acting as a hazard in the workplace.We know that a safety survey of New Zealand women that was done in 1996 found that 17 percent of studied participants had experienced stalking by their ex-partner outside their workplace. We know that women are most likely to be killed 6 months after leaving a relationship. The Family Violence Death Review Committee does not have the power to go into a workplace to investigate after a death. But it has found out informally from people it has spoken with that the only people who knew were the women’s workmates—and we have had a survey showing that 17 percent of women were stalked by ex-partners outside their workplace. So that is a very large problem and it is impacting on productivity in this country as well as safety.There was research done by Suzanne Snively commissioned by the New Zealand Public Service Association that found that on a very conservative estimate $368 million was being lost through productivity losses in our workplaces every year as a result of domestic violence—and that is the most conservative estimation of that. That would add up to around $3.7 billion being lost from our economy through loss of productivity and staff turnover because of domestic violence over a 10-year period.If policies were put in place we would have the potential to save lives increase productivity and improve the bottom line for our businesses. To me that is ultimately what we want our health and safety legislation to be about. It is about protecting everyone in the workplace. It is also about raising that bottom level of expectation for employers so that we support our employers to be doing the best by everyone in the workplace so that employees can be as happy and productive as possible.We know that we are losing a lot from our economy through domestic violence and we are losing lives as well and we have an opportunity for intervention that would also save us money in terms of the increased welfare benefits. Overseas evidence has shown that 70 percent of women on sole parent benefits are likely to be leaving violent relationships. This is an absolute possibility for a win-win-win intervention where we can help the Government’s lines we can save lives and we can improve business productivity. So I am advocating very strongly for the ACC Workplace Injury Prevention Action Plan to be negotiated with WorkSafe to include a plan for training for businesses around the country.I have had the discussion with Business New Zealand about this and it has said that businesses are really keen to intervene and support staff around domestic violence. It recognises domestic violence as a workplace hazard. Unfortunately it is not supporting my bill in relation to putting in those workplace protections. It saw that as being a bit nanny State but it was not averse to the Government providing through ACC support for businesses to help them to intervene and do what is right. Many employers overestimate the risk. They underestimate the prevalence of violence and the impact on their staff but if somebody is experiencing domestic violence they overestimate what the risk of that may be in the workplace. Some people—mostly women but possibly men as well—are losing their jobs because of that lack of knowledge and the lack of clear policies and supports for that.I know that the Ministry of Social Development has developed a range of resources including mock-ups of policies and posters to go in workplaces so a lot of work has been done. But it is not happening; it is not being rolled out through the country. Most employers would not have a clue that actually under existing legislation domestic violence is a hazard. I do not know whether anyone in this Committee has experienced a workplace where when you did your hazard identification domestic violence was mentioned within that. I have never experienced it even though I have been in a workplace where colleagues have been experiencing domestic violence and I have certainly seen how much of my time—as well as the time of other colleagues and the time of the colleague who was experiencing the violence—was taken up in dealing with it.We did put accommodations in place but that was based on only our knowledge and that was luck. In many other places people have not had the experiences that we had to be able to intervene and provide those supports. So it is absolutely vital and of huge benefit for us to be able to get those plans in place and to roll out that training because businesses have pretty muchsaid that they are not going to do it themselves and that information is not getting out there. So that clearly indicates to me the need for a Government plan. It is here in the legislation but if nobody knows about it then what good is it? Very little I would suggest. Thank you.