NewsBrief
Issue No.56 September 2007		TM

2007 Conference Highlights
An enthusiastic gathering of 160 Members and their guests enjoyed a great day out, with wide-ranging and topical presentations from the Minister of Labour, economists, business journalists, government analysts and ind ustry speakers.

Minister of Labour and ACC Ruth Dyson opened proceedings by reviewing progress towards implementing the national Health and Safety Strategy.

The Minister commended chemical suppliers for proactively helping to improve national workplace health and safety, particularly the implementation of HSNO through the global chemical industry's Responsible Care ® initiative.

The Minister was pleased to note the increasing importance of corporate Product Stewardship initiatives, and praised the increasing number of NZCIC Member companies helping customers to demonstrate compliance through a combination of timely technical advice and on-site training.

Responsible Care ® Awards
The 2007 Responsible Care ® Practitioner of the Year award went to Andrew Fulford , Compliance Manager with PGG Wrightson Ltd.

Andrew has progressively implemented a compliance strategy to ensure all 119 branches of New Zealand 's largest rural supplies company meet and eventually exceed their legal SH&E protection and compliance obligations.

Andrew now intends to obtain PRINCE © Accreditation for every site, which extend from Kaikohe to Invercargill. “ PRINCE © Certification is PGG Wrightson's response to increasing demands for higher compliance standards by regulators, customers and enforcement agencies” said Andrew.

Responsible Care ® Contributor of the Year is Pete Roche , an ex-military expert in explosives, the transport of dangerous goods and NZCIC site SH&E compliance audits. He is a highly experienced training provider and PRINCE © assessor. Pete provides popular courses in dangerous goods management and HSNO Approved Handler training. He has conducted dozens of PRINCE ©