36974 (2025). Tangi Utikere to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety

36974 (2025). Tangi Utikere to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety: How many times, if any, have WorkSafe inspectors visited sites reported to the WorkSafe road cone hotline with NZTA and on how many occasions, if any, did they find road cone over-compliance?

Hon Brooke van Velden: I am advised that WorkSafe inspectors have been doing ‘ride-alongs’ with road controlling authorities (RCAs), including NZTA. These can be anywhere from a few hours to a day. During these ride-alongs the RCA and Inspector visit sites the RCA determines need to be assessed. This can include sites where there has been a notification to the WorkSafe hotline. There have been 14 ride-alongs with RCAs, six of these were with NZTA. WorkSafe cannot currently report the exact number of sites visited per ride-along or the number specifically notifed via the hotline, or the outcomes of the site assessments conducted by RCAs. This data tracking is in development. Outside of these ride-alongs with RCAs, WorkSafe inspectors can now include TTM education and engagement in routine assessments where appropriate. WorkSafe inspectors do not follow up road cone hotline complaints without an RCA.