Peter Jackson resigning as a Director of Weta Workshop highlights the requirement that directors do need to be more involved in their company’s health and safety practices.
But while a director does not need to be doing the do and knowing about every sprained wrist or ergonomic keyboard upgrade, they must ensure there is good governance in their business. They should be aware of the top 10 risks to their people for example. The days of sleeping directors who throw their hands in the air saying “I know nothing” are over.
Directors as officers have a significant influence over the management of PCBU’s (person conducting a business or undertaking) however, health and safety is the collective responsibility of all primary duty holders. Everyone, from the boardroom to the coalface needs to be contributing to safe practice and improvements in their workplace. There is no escaping it anymore and heads cannot stay stuck in the sand.
It seems directors are now confronting their level of involvement in their business and overreaction is cautioned. There are certainly plenty of questions. The prospect of personal liability with scary potential fines or jail time is not what any director wishes to face. But most importantly, this legislation is all about making people accountable for ensuring health and safety is effectively managed and reducing the too high statistics of workplace injury and death. Directors should care enough to be part of the reduction.
If you are unsure about Director responsibility, please call us to talk it through on 0800 023 789.