Whanganui consultancy Rethink Risk taking practical approach to health and safety legislation

Zac Reid's Whanganui-based consultancy advises on practical application of health and safety legislation.

Whanganui-based consultancy Rethink Risk provides its clients with a pragmatic approach to complying with health and safety legislation.

Managing director Zac Reid grew up in Whanganui, leaving when he was about 16 to join his father in Australia. He got a job in construction in Adelaide then worked in mines around Australia in trades assistant roles.

"I had an interest in health and safety after working in a few places that were fairly dismal," Mr Reid said.

"I did my training and continued in construction and mining in health and safety roles."

He and his Australian wife Ami then moved to New Zealand and Mr Reid worked for Solid Energy as a corporate adviser. After spending a year overseas, they settled back in Christchurch where Mr Reid set up his safety consultancy.

In mid-2017 they made the move to Whanganui to be closer to family and for the lifestyle. Mr Reid still employs one staff member who is based in Christchurch.

"The big appeal was wanting to work more directly with people rather than big companies and there are a lot of mid-sized to small businesses in and around Whanganui.

"Whanganui wasn't what I remembered it as growing up and we are really enjoying being here."

Mr Reid says his fresh approach to health and safety helps businesses apply the legislation to their particular situation.

"We, as a society, accept there's risk in the things we do. The legislation also accepts that. No one gets convicted for hurting someone at work but for not doing what they could reasonably be expected to do to prevent it from happening.

"Health and safety, to me, is the physical actions people take to reduce the risk of some harm and reduce the severity of harm when things go wrong - because they do go wrong.

"I work with people to understand what their responsibilities are and help with tools, such as paperwork, to communicate to people in their business, their clients, members of the public or whoever. I'm not the expert in their job; I'm the expert in helping them understand how the legislation applies to their job.

"The biggest problem with health and safety is health and safety professionals. I like to think that I'm part of the solution to change that. There are a lot of myths and not a lot of understanding of what's required by law."

Mr Reid emphasises that he does not have a law degree but has practical experience and can apply examples to different parts of the legislation.

He has clients throughout New Zealand including vineyards in Queenstown, national paint manufacturing companies, construction businesses, insurance assessors, and hotels and bars.