Company pressure selling health and safety policies to Taranaki farmers

Federated Farmers is concerned by reports from the Taranaki region that farmers are being pressured into buying health and safety policies.

The farmers have been checking in with the Federation after a company called Health and Safety Systems has been visiting a number of Taranaki farms telling them they need to buy a dedicated health and safety policy to meet their health and safety requirements. These policies are being sold for $1200+GST.

While the Health and Safety in Employment Act (HSE) requires every workplace have methods of promoting health and safety, it has no specific requirement for a dedicated farm health and safety policy.

Employers may be able to fulfil their obligations without a physical document, and there are much cheaper alternatives to the policy being offered by Health and Safety Systems.

Some Federated Farmers members approached by Health and Safety Systems were unsure whether this company was affiliated to the Department of Labour (DoL), as legitimate DoL inspectors are visiting farms as part of other safety campaigns. Concerned members have stated they felt pressured to purchase this company’s products and contacted Federated Farmers for advice.

Federated Farmers inquiries into the matter confirmed that this company in no way represents the DoL. All legitimate DoL inspectors identify themselves in workplaces.

Based on the information the Federation has received, we do not believe this company is acting in an illegal manner. However, Federated Farmers hopes to alert farmers approached by Health and Safety Services that they are under no obligation to purchase any of their products.

At a price of $1200, Health and Safety Systems is asking for a sizable investment.

An example of a cheaper option available is Federated Farmers’ health and safety policy which has been designed for farm workplaces. This is available to members for $70+GST, or to non-members for $170+GST. This has been specifically developed as a plain English manual for farmers.

For more information, please contact:

Federated Farmers customer services, 0800 327 646 (0800 FARMING