Open Journal Systems at the Victoria University of Wellington Library
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Abstract: Death by compliance - The benefits of a risk-based approach to Health & Safety
No full textCould we all say with the hand on our heart that we are doing everything ‘so far as is reasonably practicable’ to prevent injuries or incidents?
This thought-provoking session will encourage a shift in mindset within health and safety practices. By emphasising the benefits of a risk-based approach over a compliance-focused one, it not only aims to enhance the performance and credibility of H&S professionals but also support Business Leaders to promote safer work environments and prevent injuries
The destruction of Sciences at Massey University and why we need an independent entity that can investigate universities
Get PDFThis article summarises the events that led to the dismantling of the School of Natural and Computational Sciences at Massey University, Albany campus, and the unsuccessful attempts to preserve the school in some form by staff, the public and various learned societies including the New Zealand Association of Scientists (NZAS). Here we suggest that the reasons given by the university for the need to dismantle the school changed throughout the process. This made it difficult to identify and react to the real motivation behind the destruction of the sciences on the Albany campus. We argue that the failed attempts to save an academically successful and financially viable school expose a weakness in the current Education and Training Act and demonstrate why New Zealand (NZ) needs an independent entity that can investigate universities, guard the national interests, ensure accountability of tertiary institutions’ administration, and protect the academic freedom of individual academics
The Role of National Courts in International Arbitration
Get PDFInternational arbitration has long been the preferred method of resolving cross-border disputes. While parties to an arbitration agreement made a conscious decision to exclude court jurisdiction, the role of the national courts in supporting the international arbitration process is critical. Through a discussion of recent investment treaty arbitration cases, this article explores the ways in which courts support the international arbitration process, with a focus on the courts' power to review tribunals' findings on jurisdiction, both positive and negative. It reveals how impactful the choice of the seat of arbitration is as determinative of the law that courts must apply to the arbitration procedure
Going with the Grain of the Landscape: rethinking our approach to environmental policy
Get PDFThere are doubts about whether the current approach to regulating the impacts of land use in rural Aotearoa is making a difference. This article starts by outlining four challenges policymakers face when designing policies to protect the environment while balancing social, cultural and economic interests. We then discuss some of the barriers landowners encounter when contemplating land use change to address environmental degradation. Finally, we sketch out an adaptive approach to rethinking how we do environmental policy, including by devolving some decision making to communities, providing better environmental information, being explicit about the costs and trade-offs, and reforming the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme
A Just Transition for Aotearoa New Zealand’s Dairy Sector
No full textAotearoa New Zealand has a strong history, culture and political economy of dairy agriculture, all of which are deeply interconnected in the global production and trade of dairy. However, changes in the environment, markets and regulations, and the development of alternative proteins, are disrupting traditional pastoral practices, leading to uncertain food futures. This article draws on insights gleaned over a three-year doctoral project investigating just and sustainable transitions for the nation’s dairy sector. The article puts forward three key considerations to shape future policy design principles and guidelines for more just and sustainable dairy futures: navigating intensification pressures; supporting the development of alternative proteins; and supporting farmer agency in the transition process
"Ruffled by the number of windows": The 1948 Halberstam House by Henry Kulka
No full textIn March 1940 architect Henry Kulka arrived in New Zealand as a refugee of the Second World War. He had enjoyed a successful career in Vienna, including collaborations with his former teacher Adolf Loos. Kulkaʹs wife Hilda followed with the coupleʹs children a few weeks later and during her journey she met another refugee family, the Halberstams ‐ Hugo, Martha and their daughter Lucie. Eight years later Henry Kulka designed a house for a section the Halberstams had bought in Karori. In an oral history interview with Lucie, she recalled that once the house was completed, her parents invited people they had met while renting in Kelburn to visit their new home. The feedback received about the number of windows and the wood‐panelled living and dining room gave the distinct impression that their former neighbours felt they had built a house "above [their] social level.ʺ This paper looks at the reaction to the Halberstam House and similar houses built by émigré architects when they were completed. It concludes with the perspective of a current inhabitant ‐ how well does it suit contemporary living?
Fixing the Pakaru Pipeline: Some recommendations for Change
Get PDFMāori and Pacific people remain under-represented in our research sector. There have been recent efforts to address this particular workforce issue including targeted research funds, and fellowships. However, these efforts do not currently take into account where Māori and Pacific people are. Instead, they reflect a desire for where the government want Māori and Pacific to be. While this targeting is useful for driving Māori and Pacific people into STEM, it does leave the majority of Māori and Pacific in precarious and unsustainable career pathways. This paper considers where we currently find Māori and Pacific doctorates, where Māori and Pacific people are graduating from and finally makes recommendations for a whole of system approach while continuing to support Māori and Pacific scholars in STEM
Poster: Tackling dust in the workplace - the role of dust lamps in New Zealand
No full textProblem
Dust exposure is evolving from an occupational concern to an emerging public health crisis in New Zealand, impacting a wide range of workplaces. The health implications-from immediate respiratory issues to long-term conditions-underscore the urgency for effective intervention.
Study objective:
Investigate the use and effectiveness of dust lamps in New Zealand workplaces for monitoring and mitigating dust exposure.
Methodology:
Case studies were conducted in diverse New Zealand workplaces with various dust- generating practises to assess dust lamp functionality.
An online survey engaged with health and safety practitioners, occupational specialists and other relevant personnel.
Results
Dust lamps, while not a standalone solution, offer significant promise when integrated into a broader, holistic dust management strategy. They help make invisible dust visible and can be a vital part of a comprehensive approach, provided there is increased awareness, proper training, and broader adoption.
To address the current gaps in knowledge and practice, it is crucial for researchers, regulators, and industry stakeholders to collaborate. This will enhance the efficacy of dust lamps, improve overall health outcomes, and ensure that New Zealand's workplaces are safer and healthier for all workers
Exposures and Health Effects of Diacetyl and 2,3-Pentanedione in a Coffee Processing Facility
Get PDFDiacetyl and 2,3-pentanedione are alpha-diketones that are generated during the coffee roasting process and have been shown to be related to respiratory symptoms, abnormal lung function, and in rare cases, an irreversible disease called obliterative bronchiolitis. This study measured personal exposures in a coffee roastery in New Zealand using thermal desorption tubes and explored the prevalence of respiratory symptoms with a health questionnaire.
Exposures from task samples were highest for grinding (Geometric Mean (GM): 22.5 ppb diacetyl; GM: 19.3 ppb 2,3-pentanedione), followed by packaging (GM: 10.8 ppb diacetyl; GM: 9.3 ppb 2,3-pentanedione) and then roasting (GM: 4.7 ppb diacetyl; GM: 4.1 ppb diacetyl). 8-h time-weighted average (TWA) diacetyl exposures exceeded the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Limit (REL) of 5 ppb for Roaster/Packager (GM: 6.6 ppb) and Grinder (GM: 5.3 ppb). 8-h TWA concentrations were below the NIOSH REL of 9.3 ppb for 2,3-pentanedione (Roaster/Packager, GM: 5.7 ppb; Grinder, GM: 4.6 ppb). Workers reported nose, eye symptoms and systemic symptoms (flu-like illness or achy joints, fever or chills, or unusual tiredness or fatigue).
The results indicated that exposure was highest for tasks involving ground coffee beans and that coffee processing workers can be exposed to alpha-diketones above the NIOSH RELs. Further research into alpha-diketone exposure and health effects, and control measures to minimise exposure are recommended
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