Locals may recognise Ecostore as a household name, but the company’s recent safety commitment is set to make waves in workplace health and safety across New Zealand.

Ecostore has pledged over $323,000 towards a significant overhaul of its health and safety practices following a March 2023 workplace incident at its Pakuranga factory, where a worker sustained chemical burns to his eyes.

WorkSafe New Zealand’s investigation revealed gaps in personal protective equipment (PPE), training, and emergency management.

In response, Ecostore applied for an enforceable undertaking, a legally binding agreement to implement improvements rather than face prosecution.

The company describes its response as a "holistic cultural shift," which includes the following measures:

• Installing AI-driven CCTV systems to monitor and alert workers of potential hazards in real time.
• Introducing a new working platform and additional controls to reduce exposure to hazardous substances.
• Providing reparation to the injured worker.
• Funding a Blind Low Vision NZ pilot programme aimed at supporting businesses in employing visually impaired staff, with a focus on health, safety, and inclusion.
• Creating and delivering a webinar with the Employers and Manufacturers Association to share insights from the incident and prevent similar occurrences in other workplaces.

WorkSafe’s regulatory support manager, Mark Horgan, praised the initiative, saying, “Businesses must manage their risks, and chemical safety is non-negotiable. We are pleased to see Ecostore putting things right and being a change-maker in the manufacturing and distribution sector.”

WorkSafe will closely monitor Ecostore’s progress and retains the right to resume prosecution if the agreed commitments are not met.

Horgan further highlighted that the company’s financial investment surpasses what courts may have ordered in penalties, demonstrating a substantial commitment to safety improvements with community and industry benefits.

Manufacturing remains one of New Zealand’s most hazardous industries, with exposure to dangerous substances being a key concern.

WorkSafe’s new strategy prioritises reducing high-risk harm across the sector, reinforcing the importance of proactive measures like Ecostore’s to keep workers safe.

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