In this episode, Kerry Cheung, Certified Occupational Hygienist and Technical Specialist at WorkSafe New Zealand joins host Mark Reggers to discuss their work-related health strategy.

Work-related health acknowledges the interaction between a person’s work and their health, focussing on the way work could impact worker health and the way their health might influence safe work practices. WorkSafe NZ’s work-related health strategy aims to have fewer people experience work-related ill-health to achieve their vision of: Everyone who goes to work comes home healthy and safe.

Guest Bio:

Kerry Cheung (pictured left) is a Certified Occupational Hygienist (COH®) and Technical Specialist (Work-Related Health) at WorkSafe New Zealand.

He has over 13 years’ experience in occupational hygiene, advisory, consulting, regulatory, and occupational health research, in New Zealand and Canada.

Kerry is a Full Member of the AIOH and NZOHS, and is a HASANZ Registered health and safety professional.

LinkedIn Profile

In this episode, Mark & Kerry discuss the following:

• The NZ Government has been focusing heavily on work-related health and on improving their occupational hygiene capability, what happened in the past to make this a high priority for NZ?
• Is the term work-related health different from the term occupational health?
• Are there estimates on work-related health and the burden of harm for NZ that underpin why this is so important?
• There are lots of potential health risks that can impact workers, is WorkSafe NZ focussing on any significant hazards?
• Can you explain what the HASANZ register is in more detail?
• What is in place to improve the occupational health capability in NZ?
• WorkSafe NZ has the Strategic Plan for Work-Related Health 2016-2026, are there any key things you would like to highlight from this plan?
• As an Occupational Hygienist working for WorkSafe NZ, how does your role support this overall objective of improving these work-related health objectives?
• What takeaway points would you want to leave with our listeners?
• Where can listeners go to get further information?
• How can our listeners get in contact with yourself?

New Zealand workers are 15 times more likely to die from a work-related disease than from a workplace accident. It’s clear that in the workplace, health is just as important as safety, the effects of work on health and health on work is a two-way relationship. Through the strategic themes of industry leadership, regulatory effectiveness and step-change, WorkSafe NZ aims to reach its target of fewer people experiencing work-related ill-health. Tune in as we explore WorkSafe NZ’s work-related health strategy and the role of occupational hygienists to improve awareness, attitudes and behaviours to improve the management of work-related health risks.

Additional Resources:

• Podcast Transcript
• WorkSafe NZ
• WorkSafe NZ Work-related Health
• WorkSafe NZ – Work related health strategic plan
• WorkSafe NZ Work-related health estimates and burden of harm
• Health and Safety Association of NZ

Contact a 3M Safety Specialist at scienceofsafetyanz@mmm.com for more information.