A first time for everything

Heading into uncharted waters – whether starting your own business, introducing a new safety policy or moving to a new part of the country – can often be accompanied by varying levels of discomfort.

Not necessarily because you’re unsure whether it’s the right decision, but because it’s unfamiliar and can result in a bit of pushback from those around you.

The past decade has seen a number of government-led initiatives carried out that affect the building industry, including the creation of the LBP programme and the establishment of a standalone Crown agency focused solely on workplace health and safety.

While these have caused some grumbling and pushback from the industry, most builders have done their best to take the changes on board. After some discussion, most agree the outcome could have a positive impact on the industry and, in administering these new regulations, the same group has taken on the role of implementing changes.

Introducing a site induction process for subcontractors you’ve been working with for years (see page 16), enforcing a traditionally relaxed high-vis requirement, or investing in new software to better manage your business (see page 20) may not be easy but may be necessary to create a safer, more efficient (and in some cases legally compliant!) business.

On page 6, in another move likely to draw criticism from some quarters, MBIE outlines its case for proposing a ban on retrofitting foil insulation in residential homes, a building method that’s caused five deaths in the past decade. While there haven’t been any deaths in recent years, changes to the Residential Tenancy Act are expected to require 180,000 properties to be insulated by 2019, which could increase the use of foil insulation in the retrofit market and therefore the chance of injuries or fatalities.

The chief executive of MBIE is looking to avoid that possibility by banning the method under the Building Act. If the ban goes through, it will be the first of its kind.

As the saying goes, the only constant is change; if you’re driving it for the right reasons, push ahead with confidence!

Gary Woodhouse
General Manager Operations & Marketing