Presentations
Energy-Based Safety: A Scientific Method for Enhancing Hazard Recognition and Preventing Serious Injuries
Jon Harper-Slade
Despite decades of focus on hazard identification, cognitive blind spots and ambiguous metrics still limit our ability to prevent serious harm. This presentation introduces the Energy-Based Safety framework, developed through international collaboration and currently being implemented in New Zealand by CHASNZ. At the core of the approach is the Energy Wheel, a validated tool that boosts hazard recognition by categorising the types of hazardous energy present in the workplace. Field studies indicate it improves recognition by up to 30% and fosters more structured safety conversations. The session also explores High-Energy Control Assessments (HECA) as a monitoring metric with the potential to predict and prevent serious injuries and fatalities (SIFs), moving beyond flawed metrics like TRIR. By aligning our words, actions, and measurements, Energy-Based Safety provides a more scientific, practical, and transparent model for frontline and back-office safety practices and performance measurement.
Health & Safety by Design workshops achieving industry wide change – a case study
Rob Holland & Nicky Turnbull
This session takes a practical look at how industry-led Health & Safety by Design (HSbD) workshops can shape safer outcomes across an entire industry. Against the backdrop of the government’s recent moves to promote the development of Approved Codes of Practice, we’ll look at a fire safety case study that shows the immediate, real-world benefits these workshops can deliver—demonstrating how collaboration and design thinking can drive meaningful change.
Welding Fumes and Its Impacts
Ashok Kandel
This study examines the occupational health and environmental impacts of welding, focusing on CO2 and hazardous fumes. Experiments will analyse emissions from stick and MIG welding on different mild steel surface conditions. Results will assess health and environmental impacts, aiming to quantify the risks associated with welding processes.
Bowtie Analysis Workshop
Dirk Pons
Bowtie analysis is a powerful risk assessment method that visually maps the pathways between potential hazards, the controls in place, and the possible outcomes if those controls fail. This workshop introduces participants to the technique and demonstrates how it can be applied to complex safety challenges. Using practical examples, the session will show how bowtie diagrams help organisations identify gaps, strengthen critical controls, and foster a proactive safety culture.
Guarding for the future: Innovations and Updates in Machinery Safety Standards
Tony Catterson
Unpack the latest updates to the AS/NZS 4024 series, the cornerstone of machinery safety across Australia and New Zealand.
Key updates include the introduction of AS/NZS 4024.2201–2204, which now govern access platforms, walkways, stairs, and ladders around machinery—replacing the traditional reliance on AS 1657
The revised AS/NZS 4024.1601 also brings enhanced clarity to guarding verification, while upcoming changes to AS/NZS 4024.1503 and the adoption of IEC 62061:2024 signal a shift in functional safety expectations
Attendees will gain:
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A clear understanding of the new standards and their practical implications
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Guidance on integrating updates into plant design, risk assessments, and compliance strategies
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Insights into future directions, including cyber security considerations in control systems
Whether you're a designer, engineer, or safety manager, this session will equip you with the knowledge to stay ahead of regulatory changes and foster safer, more compliant workplaces
Using facial recognition to detect operator stress
Gregory Mbangu
Ensuring worker safety requires more than just training—it demands insight into how confident operators actually feel during real tasks. This study explores whether heart rate and facial emotion recognition can reveal signs of unease while machining. Using synchronized video, vibration, and sound data, research has identified correlations between emotional expressions, physiological responses, and environmental stimuli. Findings suggest potential for real-time monitoring systems that could alert supervisors when operators experience stress, supporting timely interventions and improved training outcomes.
Engineering Safety in New Zealand – Emerging Trends and the Future Outlook
Joe Bain
This presentation explores how engineering safety is evolving in response to new technologies, regulatory shifts, and changing workforce expectations. It highlights current challenges and considers how these trends are reshaping practice across industries. The session will also outline opportunities for innovation, collaboration, and leadership to strengthen New Zealand’s safety culture and prepare for the future.
