Concerns about road cone use anywhere in New Zealand can now be reported to WorkSafe New Zealand through a new digital hotline on the WorkSafe website.
The hotline is part of a 12-month pilot, brought about by work health and safety reforms announced by the Government(external link), to tackle overcompliance in temporary traffic management.
The initiative aims to get those deploying cones to be more proportionate and balanced, while maintaining worker and public safety.
"The pilot aims to reduce unnecessary cones on the road. While cones are primarily there to manage the speed and flow of traffic and help keep everyone safe, there can be times when usage is excessive. We will engage with those involved with temporary traffic management and provide information to influence them to take a more risk-based approach to the use of cones on the road," says WorkSafe's Chief Executive Sharon Thompson.
Once a report is received through the digital hotline, WorkSafe will assess it to determine the appropriate response. This could include contact with those responsible for the roadwork site, sending an inspector out, and educating the parties involved on what the law and guidance is.
