I think most people would consider New Zealand to be a really safe country to
Zealand to be a really safe country to
Zealand to be a really safe country to live in we haven’t got any snakes or
live in we haven’t got any snakes or
live in we haven’t got any snakes or spiders to worry about like our friends
spiders to worry about like our friends
spiders to worry about like our friends in Australia we can all go to the doctor
in Australia we can all go to the doctor
in Australia we can all go to the doctor if we need to and we’re not involved in
if we need to and we’re not involved in
if we need to and we’re not involved in any sorts of Wars or conflicts but as a
any sorts of Wars or conflicts but as a
any sorts of Wars or conflicts but as a country to work in it’s a completely
country to work in it’s a completely
country to work in it’s a completely different story if you work in New
different story if you work in New
different story if you work in New Zealand you are three to four times more
Zealand you are three to four times more
Zealand you are three to four times more likely to have an accident at work than
likely to have an accident at work than
likely to have an accident at work than your colleagues in the UK and I’m not
your colleagues in the UK and I’m not
your colleagues in the UK and I’m not talking about minor stuff here either
talking about minor stuff here either
talking about minor stuff here either I’m talking about serious accidents and
I’m talking about serious accidents and
I’m talking about serious accidents and fatalities every single day we’re
fatalities every single day we’re
fatalities every single day we’re putting our lives at risk working in
putting our lives at risk working in
putting our lives at risk working in some of the most dangerous workplaces in
some of the most dangerous workplaces in
some of the most dangerous workplaces in the OECD without even realizing it and
the OECD without even realizing it and
the OECD without even realizing it and in an average week in New Zealand one
in an average week in New Zealand one
in an average week in New Zealand one person is dying at work and 15 people
person is dying at work and 15 people
person is dying at work and 15 people are dying from work-related illnesses
are dying from work-related illnesses
are dying from work-related illnesses and diseases so these are people who
and diseases so these are people who
and diseases so these are people who have become sick from their jobs and
have become sick from their jobs and
have become sick from their jobs and eventually it’s gone on to take your
eventually it’s gone on to take your
eventually it’s gone on to take your life
life
life that’s almost 1,000 New Zealanders dying
that’s almost 1,000 New Zealanders dying
that’s almost 1,000 New Zealanders dying prematurely every single year and these
prematurely every single year and these
prematurely every single year and these aren’t just numbers
aren’t just numbers
aren’t just numbers these are mums and dads sons and
these are mums and dads sons and
these are mums and dads sons and daughters and friends and spouses and
daughters and friends and spouses and
daughters and friends and spouses and each one of them live behind a loving
each one of them live behind a loving
each one of them live behind a loving family many of whom never even got the
family many of whom never even got the
family many of whom never even got the chance to say goodbye and I know that
chance to say goodbye and I know that
chance to say goodbye and I know that there are a lot of things happen in life
there are a lot of things happen in life
there are a lot of things happen in life that are completely out of our control
that are completely out of our control
that are completely out of our control you know things like bad where they’re
you know things like bad where they’re
you know things like bad where they’re earthquakes or the sorts of genes we
earthquakes or the sorts of genes we
earthquakes or the sorts of genes we hear from our parents but this this is
hear from our parents but this this is
hear from our parents but this this is not one of those things because every
not one of those things because every
not one of those things because every single workplace death an accident is
single workplace death an accident is
single workplace death an accident is preventable and so the real tragedy here
preventable and so the real tragedy here
preventable and so the real tragedy here is not only that we lost these people
is not only that we lost these people
is not only that we lost these people but that we didn’t have to now we all
but that we didn’t have to now we all
but that we didn’t have to now we all know that no talk on workplace health
know that no talk on workplace health
know that no talk on workplace health and safety is complete without at least
and safety is complete without at least
and safety is complete without at least one graph so here’s mine and what this
one graph so here’s mine and what this
one graph so here’s mine and what this is showing us is that this actually
is showing us is that this actually
is showing us is that this actually group of people out there who are having
group of people out there who are having
group of people out there who are having more accidents at work than the rest of
more accidents at work than the rest of
more accidents at work than the rest of us
us
us and that’s our young people those in
and that’s our young people those in
and that’s our young people those in that 15 to 24 year age group and this is
that 15 to 24 year age group and this is
that 15 to 24 year age group and this is not something that’s unique to New
not something that’s unique to New
not something that’s unique to New Zealand international a young people are
Zealand international a young people are
Zealand international a young people are over represented in these sorts of
over represented in these sorts of
over represented in these sorts of statistics and have some of the highest
statistics and have some of the highest
statistics and have some of the highest rates of accidents and workplaces all
rates of accidents and workplaces all
rates of accidents and workplaces all over the world and as you can imagine
over the world and as you can imagine
over the world and as you can imagine there are a number of reasons for why
there are a number of reasons for why
there are a number of reasons for why this is happening
this is happening
this is happening sorry first of all young people just
sorry first of all young people just
sorry first of all young people just haven’t got the skills and experience to
haven’t got the skills and experience to
haven’t got the skills and experience to be able to make good decisions that will
be able to make good decisions that will
be able to make good decisions that will keep them safe at work and normally
keep them safe at work and normally
keep them safe at work and normally education should be enough to compensate
education should be enough to compensate
education should be enough to compensate for that but in New Zealand that’s
for that but in New Zealand that’s
for that but in New Zealand that’s pretty much left up to the individual
pretty much left up to the individual
pretty much left up to the individual employers to provide and there’s no
employers to provide and there’s no
employers to provide and there’s no guarantee it’s going to be delivered any
guarantee it’s going to be delivered any
guarantee it’s going to be delivered any kind of standard then you’ve got the
kind of standard then you’ve got the
kind of standard then you’ve got the issue of the teenagers themselves
issue of the teenagers themselves
issue of the teenagers themselves because this may actually be the worst
because this may actually be the worst
because this may actually be the worst possible time and someone’s life to try
possible time and someone’s life to try
possible time and someone’s life to try and convince some of the merits of
and convince some of the merits of
and convince some of the merits of wearing high vers and safety goggles I
wearing high vers and safety goggles I
wearing high vers and safety goggles I mean they’re not exactly the most
mean they’re not exactly the most
mean they’re not exactly the most enthusiastic or engaged Bunch at the
enthusiastic or engaged Bunch at the
enthusiastic or engaged Bunch at the best of times but they’re even less so
best of times but they’re even less so
best of times but they’re even less so when it comes to this kind of thing and
when it comes to this kind of thing and
when it comes to this kind of thing and really who can blame them I mean most
really who can blame them I mean most
really who can blame them I mean most adults don’t even care about this kind
adults don’t even care about this kind
adults don’t even care about this kind of thing and we actually understand the
of thing and we actually understand the
of thing and we actually understand the risk now I want you to be completely
risk now I want you to be completely
risk now I want you to be completely honest with me here how many of you died
honest with me here how many of you died
honest with me here how many of you died a little on the inside when you realize
a little on the inside when you realize
a little on the inside when you realize that my talk today was about workplace
that my talk today was about workplace
that my talk today was about workplace health and safety now put yourself in
health and safety now put yourself in
health and safety now put yourself in the shoes of a 17 year old and try to
the shoes of a 17 year old and try to
the shoes of a 17 year old and try to answer that question again because the
answer that question again because the
answer that question again because the reality is that teenagers stop thinking
reality is that teenagers stop thinking
reality is that teenagers stop thinking about this kind of thing a long time ago
about this kind of thing a long time ago
about this kind of thing a long time ago and now they’re thinking about different
and now they’re thinking about different
and now they’re thinking about different things you know they’re at a stage in
things you know they’re at a stage in
things you know they’re at a stage in their lives where they’re buying a car
their lives where they’re buying a car
their lives where they’re buying a car or moving out of home maybe traveling
or moving out of home maybe traveling
or moving out of home maybe traveling overseas they’re becoming independent
overseas they’re becoming independent
overseas they’re becoming independent young adults and the health and safety
young adults and the health and safety
young adults and the health and safety ship has well and truly sailed for these
ship has well and truly sailed for these
ship has well and truly sailed for these people so how do we fix this well it’s
people so how do we fix this well it’s
people so how do we fix this well it’s complicated
complicated
complicated because there’s something else going on
because there’s something else going on
because there’s something else going on here too behind the scenes and it’s not
here too behind the scenes and it’s not
here too behind the scenes and it’s not something that’s just suddenly cropped
something that’s just suddenly cropped
something that’s just suddenly cropped up out of nowhere
historically we’ve never been great with
historically we’ve never been great with Health and Safety you know it’s one
Health and Safety you know it’s one
Health and Safety you know it’s one aspect of New Zealand life that
aspect of New Zealand life that
aspect of New Zealand life that continues to be an issue for us and the
continues to be an issue for us and the
continues to be an issue for us and the general consensus is that our culture
general consensus is that our culture
general consensus is that our culture plays a big part in that so what is our
plays a big part in that so what is our
plays a big part in that so what is our culture
culture
culture exactly well we’re resilient and
exactly well we’re resilient and
exactly well we’re resilient and hard-working we’re creative and
hard-working we’re creative and
hard-working we’re creative and resourceful and we’re more than happy to
resourceful and we’re more than happy to
resourceful and we’re more than happy to have a go at things and it’s that spirit
have a go at things and it’s that spirit
have a go at things and it’s that spirit that has led us to so much innovation
that has led us to so much innovation
that has led us to so much innovation and success in the arts and business and
and success in the arts and business and
and success in the arts and business and science and technology in sport but
science and technology in sport but
science and technology in sport but there are also parts of our culture that
there are also parts of our culture that
there are also parts of our culture that can create real problems for us when it
can create real problems for us when it
can create real problems for us when it comes to workplace health and safety
comes to workplace health and safety
comes to workplace health and safety things like our willingness to take
things like our willingness to take
things like our willingness to take risks to try our luck to make do or to
risks to try our luck to make do or to
risks to try our luck to make do or to tough it out all these things can create
tough it out all these things can create
tough it out all these things can create the sorts of conditions where accidents
the sorts of conditions where accidents
the sorts of conditions where accidents happen and people get hurt now nobody is
happen and people get hurt now nobody is
happen and people get hurt now nobody is suggesting that we need to wrap everyone
suggesting that we need to wrap everyone
suggesting that we need to wrap everyone up in cotton wool and wear helmets
up in cotton wool and wear helmets
up in cotton wool and wear helmets inside for the rest of our lives but we
inside for the rest of our lives but we
inside for the rest of our lives but we do need to realize that there is a big
do need to realize that there is a big
do need to realize that there is a big difference between being tough and being
difference between being tough and being
difference between being tough and being reckless because when we don’t recognize
reckless because when we don’t recognize
reckless because when we don’t recognize that difference the consequences can be
that difference the consequences can be
that difference the consequences can be absolutely heartbreaking
in 2010 29 people including a 17 year
in 2010 29 people including a 17 year old working on his very first shift lost
old working on his very first shift lost
old working on his very first shift lost their lives in New Zealand’s worst
their lives in New Zealand’s worst
their lives in New Zealand’s worst mining disaster since 1914 and in the
mining disaster since 1914 and in the
mining disaster since 1914 and in the months that followed it really felt like
months that followed it really felt like
months that followed it really felt like the Pike River mining disaster had
the Pike River mining disaster had
the Pike River mining disaster had finally put workplace health and safety
finally put workplace health and safety
finally put workplace health and safety on the radar of the average New
on the radar of the average New
on the radar of the average New Zealander and this tragedy became a real
Zealander and this tragedy became a real
Zealander and this tragedy became a real opportunity for us to draw a line in the
opportunity for us to draw a line in the
opportunity for us to draw a line in the sand and save countless lives in the
sand and save countless lives in the
sand and save countless lives in the future and we have made some progress
future and we have made some progress
future and we have made some progress since WorkSafe was established in 2013
since WorkSafe was established in 2013
since WorkSafe was established in 2013 then we got a new law a couple of years
then we got a new law a couple of years
then we got a new law a couple of years later unfortunately though
later unfortunately though
later unfortunately though we continue to hear stories in the news
we continue to hear stories in the news
we continue to hear stories in the news or every other day of another farmer
or every other day of another farmer
or every other day of another farmer dying in a quad bike accident or someone
dying in a quad bike accident or someone
dying in a quad bike accident or someone losing a hand at the meat works or being
losing a hand at the meat works or being
losing a hand at the meat works or being crushed to death by a machine that were
crushed to death by a machine that were
crushed to death by a machine that were operating and seven years after Pike New
operating and seven years after Pike New
operating and seven years after Pike New Zealanders are still being maimed and
Zealanders are still being maimed and
Zealanders are still being maimed and killed in the workplace at horrifying
killed in the workplace at horrifying
killed in the workplace at horrifying rates now good laws and regulations are
rates now good laws and regulations are
rates now good laws and regulations are an essential part of dealing with this
an essential part of dealing with this
an essential part of dealing with this there’s no doubt about that but you
there’s no doubt about that but you
there’s no doubt about that but you can’t just legislate a problem like this
can’t just legislate a problem like this
can’t just legislate a problem like this way because at the end of the day the
way because at the end of the day the
way because at the end of the day the people who are actually doing the work
people who are actually doing the work
people who are actually doing the work are the ones who need to know how to
are the ones who need to know how to
are the ones who need to know how to keep themselves safe while they do it
keep themselves safe while they do it
keep themselves safe while they do it and the law doesn’t teach us how to do
and the law doesn’t teach us how to do
and the law doesn’t teach us how to do that how can people be expected to
that how can people be expected to
that how can people be expected to participate effectively in something
participate effectively in something
participate effectively in something they don’t understand and so if
they don’t understand and so if
they don’t understand and so if education is the key but teenagers don’t
education is the key but teenagers don’t
education is the key but teenagers don’t care then we have to ask ourselves if
care then we have to ask ourselves if
care then we have to ask ourselves if some better alternatives might exist
some better alternatives might exist
some better alternatives might exist what if their education started long
what if their education started long
what if their education started long before they got anywhere near a
before they got anywhere near a
before they got anywhere near a workplace and not on their very first
workplace and not on their very first
workplace and not on their very first day on the job a couple of years ago I
day on the job a couple of years ago I
day on the job a couple of years ago I asked myself that very same question and
asked myself that very same question and
asked myself that very same question and it led me to creating a project that I’d
it led me to creating a project that I’d
it led me to creating a project that I’d like to share with you all today so the
like to share with you all today so the
like to share with you all today so the project is called when I grow up and
project is called when I grow up and
project is called when I grow up and it’s designed to teach 4 to 9 year olds
it’s designed to teach 4 to 9 year olds
it’s designed to teach 4 to 9 year olds about very basic workplace health and
about very basic workplace health and
about very basic workplace health and safety and the project was all funded by
safety and the project was all funded by
safety and the project was all funded by myself personally so the team consisted
myself personally so the team consisted
myself personally so the team consisted of a grand total of two people an
of a grand total of two people an
of a grand total of two people an illustrator from Wellington who I hired
illustrator from Wellington who I hired
illustrator from Wellington who I hired to draw the characters for the project
to draw the characters for the project
to draw the characters for the project and myself who created all the content
and myself who created all the content
and myself who created all the content and the website which launched in theory
and the website which launched in theory
and the website which launched in theory of last year so on the website anyone
of last year so on the website anyone
of last year so on the website anyone can go through and learn about 16
can go through and learn about 16
can go through and learn about 16 different occupations and 33 different
different occupations and 33 different
different occupations and 33 different items of PPE or health and safety
items of PPE or health and safety
items of PPE or health and safety concepts as well as finding activities
concepts as well as finding activities
concepts as well as finding activities and worksheets that relates each of the
and worksheets that relates each of the
and worksheets that relates each of the jobs that have featured on the site and
jobs that have featured on the site and
jobs that have featured on the site and when I was thinking about what jobs to
when I was thinking about what jobs to
when I was thinking about what jobs to include in this project I was thinking
include in this project I was thinking
include in this project I was thinking about things like how easy it was going
about things like how easy it was going
about things like how easy it was going to be to explain the different health
to be to explain the different health
to be to explain the different health and safety elements and a little that a
and safety elements and a little that a
and safety elements and a little that a 4 to 9 year old could understand
4 to 9 year old could understand
4 to 9 year old could understand but I was also thinking about what sorts
but I was also thinking about what sorts
but I was also thinking about what sorts of jobs these kids would naturally be
of jobs these kids would naturally be
of jobs these kids would naturally be really interested in at their age so
really interested in at their age so
really interested in at their age so there’s no I’m telemarketer or huge fund
there’s no I’m telemarketer or huge fund
there’s no I’m telemarketer or huge fund trader character I’ve had to glaze over
trader character I’ve had to glaze over
trader character I’ve had to glaze over some of the realities of modern work
some of the realities of modern work
some of the realities of modern work just a little bit and the interests of
just a little bit and the interests of
just a little bit and the interests of keeping the little ones excited and
keeping the little ones excited and
keeping the little ones excited and engaged and as you can see girls and
engaged and as you can see girls and
engaged and as you can see girls and boys are equally represented and there’s
boys are equally represented and there’s
boys are equally represented and there’s a mix of ethnicities as well so there’s
a mix of ethnicities as well so there’s
a mix of ethnicities as well so there’s something for everyone on the side so
something for everyone on the side so
something for everyone on the side so how does it work okay well if we have a
how does it work okay well if we have a
how does it work okay well if we have a look at the pilot character as an
look at the pilot character as an
look at the pilot character as an example it shows us how we can talk
example it shows us how we can talk
example it shows us how we can talk about some of the less obvious elements
about some of the less obvious elements
about some of the less obvious elements of workplace health and safety without
of workplace health and safety without
of workplace health and safety without getting too deep and technical so we’ve
getting too deep and technical so we’ve
getting too deep and technical so we’ve got sleep and risk to help her cope with
got sleep and risk to help her cope with
got sleep and risk to help her cope with the changing time zones and shift work
the changing time zones and shift work
the changing time zones and shift work compression stockings to help prevent
compression stockings to help prevent
compression stockings to help prevent DVT and water to help keep her hydrated
DVT and water to help keep her hydrated
DVT and water to help keep her hydrated so that she can concentrate and stay lit
so that she can concentrate and stay lit
so that she can concentrate and stay lit and next if we move across to the Sailor
and next if we move across to the Sailor
and next if we move across to the Sailor character it shows us some of the
character it shows us some of the
character it shows us some of the elements of workplace health and safety
elements of workplace health and safety
elements of workplace health and safety that are more visible to us we see
that are more visible to us we see
that are more visible to us we see someone doing their job and these are
someone doing their job and these are
someone doing their job and these are the sorts of things that will typically
the sorts of things that will typically
the sorts of things that will typically come to mind when people start thinking
come to mind when people start thinking
come to mind when people start thinking or talking about workplace health and
or talking about workplace health and
or talking about workplace health and safety in general so we’ve got a hard
safety in general so we’ve got a hard
safety in general so we’ve got a hard hat to protect him from falling objects
hat to protect him from falling objects
hat to protect him from falling objects a life jacket in case he falls overboard
a life jacket in case he falls overboard
a life jacket in case he falls overboard and Havers overalls to help his
and Havers overalls to help his
and Havers overalls to help his colleagues see him clearly and one of
colleagues see him clearly and one of
colleagues see him clearly and one of the great things about engaging with
the great things about engaging with
the great things about engaging with kids at this age is that we’re actually
kids at this age is that we’re actually
kids at this age is that we’re actually building on all of the other health and
building on all of the other health and
building on all of the other health and safety education that they’re already
safety education that they’re already
safety education that they’re already receiving because these kids are having
receiving because these kids are having
receiving because these kids are having almost daily conversations with the
almost daily conversations with the
almost daily conversations with the appearance and teaches about health and
appearance and teaches about health and
appearance and teaches about health and safety in general so they’re talking
safety in general so they’re talking
safety in general so they’re talking about road safety and fire safety and
about road safety and fire safety and
about road safety and fire safety and water safety so they’re already in that
water safety so they’re already in that
water safety so they’re already in that space so it’s not such a stretch for us
space so it’s not such a stretch for us
space so it’s not such a stretch for us to add on just a tiny little bit of
to add on just a tiny little bit of
to add on just a tiny little bit of extra education in the context of the
extra education in the context of the
extra education in the context of the workplace and actually it complements
workplace and actually it complements
workplace and actually it complements what’s going on already and finally
what’s going on already and finally
what’s going on already and finally gives them a more complete picture of
gives them a more complete picture of
gives them a more complete picture of what health and safety really means and
what health and safety really means and
what health and safety really means and considering the fact that a person will
considering the fact that a person will
considering the fact that a person will spend an average of 1/3 of their life at
spend an average of 1/3 of their life at
spend an average of 1/3 of their life at work it seems absolutely crazy to me
work it seems absolutely crazy to me
work it seems absolutely crazy to me that we spend almost zero time educating
that we spend almost zero time educating
that we spend almost zero time educating people on how to stay safe in the
people on how to stay safe in the
people on how to stay safe in the environments
environments
environments particularly given the situation that we
particularly given the situation that we
particularly given the situation that we have here in New Zealand and of course
have here in New Zealand and of course
have here in New Zealand and of course one of the other great things about
one of the other great things about
one of the other great things about engaging with the kids at this age is
engaging with the kids at this age is
engaging with the kids at this age is that unlike the rest of us they’re
that unlike the rest of us they’re
that unlike the rest of us they’re actually super excited about the idea of
actually super excited about the idea of
actually super excited about the idea of being in adults and having a job and I’m
being in adults and having a job and I’m
being in adults and having a job and I’m sure you can all remember a time in your
sure you can all remember a time in your
sure you can all remember a time in your own lives when you were really excited
own lives when you were really excited
own lives when you were really excited about something and how much more
about something and how much more
about something and how much more enjoyable the learning process was for
enjoyable the learning process was for
enjoyable the learning process was for you because when we’re excited and when
you because when we’re excited and when
you because when we’re excited and when we’re enthusiastic we’re more engaged we
we’re enthusiastic we’re more engaged we
we’re enthusiastic we’re more engaged we pay attention we listen we learn and
pay attention we listen we learn and
pay attention we listen we learn and most importantly we remember so this
most importantly we remember so this
most importantly we remember so this project can help us to address the issue
project can help us to address the issue
project can help us to address the issue of limited health and safety education
of limited health and safety education
of limited health and safety education the difficulty of engaging with
the difficulty of engaging with
the difficulty of engaging with teenagers and the cultural challenges
teenagers and the cultural challenges
teenagers and the cultural challenges that we face as a country when it comes
that we face as a country when it comes
that we face as a country when it comes to workplace health and safety and over
to workplace health and safety and over
to workplace health and safety and over the last year and a half the feedback
the last year and a half the feedback
the last year and a half the feedback that we’ve gotten has been really
that we’ve gotten has been really
that we’ve gotten has been really amazing and the project will continue to
amazing and the project will continue to
amazing and the project will continue to grow and evolve over time as we figure
grow and evolve over time as we figure
grow and evolve over time as we figure out what works best and how we can reach
out what works best and how we can reach
out what works best and how we can reach as many people as possible with the
as many people as possible with the
as many people as possible with the project the reality is though that this
project the reality is though that this
project the reality is though that this is not a silver bullet but it is a step
is not a silver bullet but it is a step
is not a silver bullet but it is a step in the right direction and it’s a step
in the right direction and it’s a step
in the right direction and it’s a step that we all need to take together so if
that we all need to take together so if
that we all need to take together so if you have children or other young people
you have children or other young people
you have children or other young people in your life then please take the time
in your life then please take the time
in your life then please take the time to talk to them about the future use the
to talk to them about the future use the
to talk to them about the future use the site in the characters to help them
site in the characters to help them
site in the characters to help them understand that the workplace can be a
understand that the workplace can be a
understand that the workplace can be a high-risk environment with its own
high-risk environment with its own
high-risk environment with its own hazards just like the kitchen just like
hazards just like the kitchen just like
hazards just like the kitchen just like the road and just like the sea and when
the road and just like the sea and when
the road and just like the sea and when you ask them what they want to be when
you ask them what they want to be when
you ask them what they want to be when they grow up I know that each of them
they grow up I know that each of them
they grow up I know that each of them will have a different answer for you and
will have a different answer for you and
will have a different answer for you and that answer will probably change over
that answer will probably change over
that answer will probably change over time but no matter what they do end up
time but no matter what they do end up
time but no matter what they do end up doing in the future I hope that we can
doing in the future I hope that we can
doing in the future I hope that we can send them off on their first day knowing
send them off on their first day knowing
send them off on their first day knowing that what they will be when they grow up
that what they will be when they grow up
that what they will be when they grow up is safe at work thank you
is safe at work thank you
is safe at work thank you you
”
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