Are you ready for new health and safety legislation?

Bronwyn Muir is a dairy farm business owner, managing director OnFarmSafety New Zealand and president of Taranaki Federated Farmers New Zealand.

Have you got your farm business sorted in time for the new health and safety legislation?

Do you feel confident that your farm business is ready and a relevant, compliant health and safety system is actively working for you and your farm team?

The Health and Safety at Work Act comes into effect on Monday, April 4, which is only two months away.

The Health and Safety Reform Bill was passed at Parliament in August 2015, and this gave the final seal of approval for the adoption of the new legislation.

This is the first significant reform of New Zealand's health and safety laws in 20 years and addresses the recommendations of the Independent Taskforce on Workplace Health and Safety.

The taskforce was established in June 2012, after the Pike River workplace tragedy in November 2010 where an underground explosion at the Pike River coal mine claimed 29 lives.

The investigation into this incident highlighted a large number of health and safety system failings in the workplace.

After extensive workplace consultation, the taskforce report found that New Zealand's current health and safety system was not fit for purpose. It identified a number of significant weaknesses that needed to be addressed if New Zealand was to achieve a major step-change, and address the commitment of business owners and workers.

The new law will be supported by workplace and farming industry regulations that are being developed in time for April 2016.

It is important to make sure your business will comply with the new rules, just as you ensure you comply with other key business aspects such as tax, finance and animal health.

Make sure you are taking steps now by seeking advice and help where you need it.

Being proactive now means you won't find yourself discovering the new health and safety requirements by accident.

Bronwyn Muir, TechNZISM, is a dairy farm business owner, managing director OnFarmSafety New Zealand and president of Taranaki Federated Farmers New Zealand. She will be writing a column for the Stratford Press on a range of relevant issues for our rural community.