Covirus 19 coronavirus: Few Level 3 trade offenses despite complaints

Few companies are violating pandemic rules, an employers’ association says, despite 991 complaints being filed against companies since alert level 3 began this week.

Of these, 380 are under further investigation, 75 of them by the labor regulator WorkSafe.

However, the Employers ‘and Manufacturers’ Association said it learned of some real gaps and that most companies had a pandemic plan.

In a survey of 300 companies, only 8 percent did not have a plan, which is a requirement to open below level 3.

“We are not hearing about violations and we are not hearing much inspection activity by WorkSafe at actual workplaces,” said association executive director Brett O’Riley.

“We hear that the police stopped the cars, but not the inspection activity, so that’s a good sign so far.”

The high level of compliance showed that many of the phone records made by WorkSafe were correct, he said.

The agency is reluctant to send inspectors to workplaces.

“Given that they only have a small number of inspectors, and visiting and returning to sites carries the risk of transmission, I can understand them taking a cautious approach. And based on what we’ve seen about compliance to date, I think it justifies they don’t need do more inspections than normal, “O’Riley said.

The companies understood the system and “in some way, it is the normal process that takes place,” he said.

WorkSafe said it had just updated its Covid-19 tip for level 3.

WorkSafe CEO Phil Parkes said the agency would use its enforcement toolkit if a company failed to comply and that “inspectors will assist as needed.”

“However, we have no powers under HSWA. [Health and Safety at Work Act] in such circumstances, closing a business for breach of Covid’s restrictions.

“The police have such powers under the Health Law, so we would call them to achieve closure when necessary.”

The Minister of Labor Relations and Safety, Iain Lees-Galloway, asked if he supported the WorkSafe approach, in a statement he said this was “operational”.

“I am informed that most employers and workers follow the rules admirably, but health and safety inspectors are leaving the workplace as needed, both proactively and reactively.”

Complaints about the numbers
From midnight Monday, April 27 to 10 pm on Thursday, April 30, there were 2101 reports of violations: 991 on business, 785 on individuals, 325 on mass meetings.

Of these, 380 have been referred to:

* Ministry of Enterprise, Innovation and Employment – 114
* Police – 111
* WorkSafe – 75
* Ministry of Primary Industries – 18
* 62 are in process or closed