$22m ACC fund for small firms

ACC will launch a new $22 million injury prevention scheme for small and medium businesses which aims to prevent workplace injuries before they occur.

The funding — $4.4 million per year over five years — would come in the form of grants and subsidies which, from February, small businesses could apply for.

“The subsidies are designed to support small and medium-sized businesses to invest in training, equipment or advisory services that will have a direct impact on the health and safety of workplaces,” ACC Minister Iain Lees-Galloway said.

For example, the subsidy could be claimed to reimburse the cost of a staff health and safety course.

“The main focus . . . is to support the smaller businesses which haven’t previously been able to access this type of support because the barriers have been too high.”

It would encourage small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) to take up these opportunities and, therefore, help prevent accidents, saving ACC money in the long run.

The Institute of Directors says about 97 per cent of NZ businesses are SMEs.

ACC data shows there were 80,000 work-related claims from SMEs in 2018 and 84,000 from large businesses. However, about 60,000 injuries were not able to be categorised, due to lack of information.