I am reminded of the Trumpet ice-cream ad on television a year or two ago where the camera follows someone walking from a beach into a town – togs, togs, undies. Appropriate, appropriate – then inappropriate. In this case, making do, making do – then having an avoidable accident. It can be a fine line between the two.
Does this make me an advocate of the “nanny state”? Not at all – in fact, the opposite. If farmers and the industry itself do not lead the way in developing systems that keep our farming people safe, the government will.
In my opinion, that would be the worst outcome we could have. I have yet to see an example of when adding red tape to the mix makes operations more efficient. It is still in farmers’ hands at the moment, although health and safety legislation is working its way through the halls of power in Wellington.
So, in this month’s special report – Protecting our People – we talk to some farmers who have lifted their game on the health and safety front, get a progress report on the legislation, and get the low-down on some of the more often overlooked “health” aspects of health and safety.
Mailed out with this issue is a special mini-magazine showcasing all the regional winners of this year’s Dairy Industry Awards.
We have taken it out of the main magazine this year and given the winners a bit more space to roam in our special standalone supplement.
The awards are a real opportunity for the industry to celebrate success and showcase some of the aspects that make it great.
Check out the Dairy Exporter website (www.dairyexporter.co.nz – and click on the NZ Dairy Awards tab) for extensive coverage – we even have video interviews with all the winners.
As always, any feedback is welcome. Tell us what you like about the magazine – and what we can do better. Follow me on Twitter as @dairyexportersc or chuck me an email.
