By Barry Dyer, chief executive, Responsible Care NZ
Rejoice… it’s election time, when the impossible becomes possible and we are offered inducements many of which we hadn’t even asked for.
Our triennial electoral sweepstakes has something for everyone, especially those large-scale, hard to achieve infrastructure development projects which can now propel us into a new era of greater productivity and national prosperity.
Naturally, our chemical industry has a list of policies we wish to see reviewed, adjusted and even discarded to better achieve the required, mutually beneficial outcomes arising from safely managing the chemicals essential to sustaining and enhancing our quality of life.
Sadly, science is reduced to the newly popular AI sector, while chemistry references EV battery issues.
Science education in particular is showing signs of terminal illness. Industry is already experiencing the consequences of poorly educated school leavers, stagnating productivity and exacerbating skills shortages in urgently needed English, Maths and Science, to achieve critical technological performance.
Universities are bemoaning the drop in overseas students, many of whom would stay to enhance New Zealand’s scientific endeavours across all industry sectors. School leavers are choosing trades – essential in our growing communities, but not helping to relieve critical skill shortages in our R &D, manufacturing and science-related teaching sectors. Where are the chemists to apply cutting edge knowledge to safely managing the major chemical hazards throughout industry?
Safety has always been the focus of the chemical industry where accidents too often result in major catastrophes. The industry response was the Responsible Care safety, health and environmental protection initiative, delivered through 66 national associations. New Zealand is proud to have helped establish Responsible Care in countries as diverse as Singapore, Croatia, China, Sri Lanka, Kenya and most recently Vanuatu.
Extreme weather events highlight the fragility of our national transport network, already vulnerable through years of underfunding and building to minimum standards, while the skilled workforce is sidetracked into repairs, or simply lost abroad due to scepticism critical projects will ever be achieved. Focusing limited resources on just one or two major transport infrastructure projects (roads of national importance and a robust, modern rail network?) would reduce risk to workers and the public.
Better roads serving larger, fuel-efficient vehicles, together with a modern rail capability requires bi-partisan political commitment not evident in pre-election promises and party manifestos.
Chemical companies and their customers benefit from the products and services provided by their national Responsible Care associations, with improved workplace health and safety reducing the frequency and severity of workplace accidents through continuous improvement.
It is frustrating chemical suppliers and indeed key sectors such as agriculture, are seeking relief from the never-ending and increasingly complex, confusing and often impractical regulations, which add cost but little or no value because industry is not engaged in the process.
To achieve the desirable but elusive goal of safe and healthy workplaces, Ministers need to instruct their agencies to better collaborate with industry and tap the specialist operational expertise for the mutual benefits which will result.
Is it possible to regulate the elimination of accidents and substandard performance in workplaces?
Of course not, however a revitalised, mutually beneficial government partnership with proactive industry associations would be a major advance towards the sensible goal of safer workplaces.
Chemical suppliers, their customers and not forgetting emergency responders, should not give up hope of restoring collaboration between the regulators and the regulated. After all, in an election year all things are indeed possible – including recognition and promotion of the 35 year ‘overnight success’ of Responsible Care in enhancing safer workplaces.
Safety has always been the focus of the chemical industry where accidents too often result in major catastrophes. As political parties ready their promises pre-election, Responsible Care says the chemical industry has a list of policies it wants to see reviewed, adjusted and even discarded.