Bernadine Bourke sets up ACE Health and Safety consultancy in Whanganui

Bernadine Bourke's ACE Health and Safety consultancy works with small to medium businesses in the Whanganui area.

A new Whanganui health and safety consultancy aims to help people help themselves when it comes to workplace safety and risk.

Bernadine Bourke set up ACE Health and Safety in late 2018, focusing on working with local small and medium businesses that do not have in-house health and safety specialists.

"People don't really know what they should be doing [regarding health and safety] quite often or they're very busy just running their business and haven't got time," Bourke said.

"A lot of business owners are time poor, cash poor. They are focusing on doing their business without necessarily being aware of the liabilities - not just financial but also moral liability. Workers are an asset to the business and need to be valued."

A variety of online health and safety systems and templates were available but Bourke said they were not necessarily the best option as they were not tailored to a particular business.

"I'm targeting what the business does and keeping it real for them, getting their input because they know what they do. I'm aiming to help people help themselves, give them the relevant information for their business and be available for any queries they have."

New Zealand has an incredibly poor record for health and safety in the westernised world, Bourke said.

"Accident rates are unacceptable and things have to change. There is more emphasis on effective risk management including understanding and practical implementation, not relying on ticking boxes and superfluous paperwork."

Bourke has 20 years' experience in the health and safety and compliance area, working for a range of businesses from the building industry to transport, museums and galleries and local government. She has a graduate diploma in occupational safety and health from Massey University.

Bourke has worked in health and safety throughout New Zealand but decided to set up her consultancy so she could stay in Whanganui. She moved here in 2010 to attend Wanganui Glass School and wants to continue living in the city.

More information about Bourke's services is available at www.acehealthandsafety.co.nz