BEB RPT 21 054 Border Worker Vaccination Update to Minister Redacted.pdf

COVERSHEET

Update: Implementation of COVID-19 Public Health Response (Vaccinations)
Amendment Order 2021
Security level:  IN CONFIDENCE
Report number:  BEB RPT 21/054

To:
Hon Chris Hipkins
Minister for COVID-19 Response

Cc:
Hon Michael Wood
Minister of Transport
KEY POINTS
1.  Attached is this week’s report regarding the implementation of the  COVID-19 Public Health
Response (Vaccinations) Amendment Order 2021.
2.  The implementation programme is being delivered by a cross-agency Senior Officials Group,
chaired by the Border Executive Board and including representatives from Ministry of Health;
Ministry of Transport; Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment; Department of Prime
Minister and Cabinet; Public Service Commission; Ministry of Social Development; Civil Aviation
Authority; and Maritime NZ.
3.  This report provides you with detail on current and emerging issues related to the implementation
of  the  amended  Vaccination  Order,  and  how  these  are  being  responded  to  by  Government
agencies and the border sector.
4.  The data included in this report was extracted from the Border Worker Testing Register by the
Ministry of Health on Wednesday 22 September.
5.  On the request of your Of ice, an overview of the Vaccination Order’s monitoring and compliance
system and framework is provided in Appendix 2.
6.  The implementation programme is showing as AMBER overall, as anticipated, due to the number
of issues under active management in the lead up to the 30 September deadline.
under the Official Information Act 1982
RECOMMENDATION:
a)  That you note the contents of the attached report

  Yes / No
s9(2)(a) OIA
Christine Stevenson

         Hon Chris Hipkins
Released
Comptroller of Customs / Chair

                    Minister for COVID-19 Response
Border Executive Board


Date: 23 September 2021

         Date:
ENDS
BEB RPT 21/054 – 23 September 2021
     I

under the Official Information Act 1982
Released

Proactive Work
Reactive Work
Proactive Work
N/A
This comprises of
WorkSafe has a broad COVID-19 role under the
Leading up to the deadlines in the Order, a key
  Broad education and engagement
relevant Alert Level requirements / Orders and the
responsibility of a PCBU is to engage with an

Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA), taking an  unvaccinated worker to consider any other work they
Targeted education and engagement against
educate first approach. If a business or service then
could undertake within their organisation
vaccination timeframes – transitional and
fails to make the changes, enforcement action is
(redeployment).
ongoing for new workers
considered.

Guidelines have been developed by MBIE to support
Verification of data against information held in  WorkSafe interventions are triggered by referrals e.g
employers navigate potential employment law
the CIR and with PCBUs for unvaccinated
from MoH, internal staff, by members of the public,
requirements.
workers
through unions and through the AOG Compliance Hub

The PCBU also must ensure that no unvaccinated
Targeted engagement and monitoring activity
Once WorkSafe gets a referral, interventions are
workers undertake or are deployed to undertake (e.g
with PCBUs with unvaccinated workers.
tailored based on several factors including risk profile
at another location) certain work. Thi  could include,

and history of compliance. Again, the focus is on
for example, actively reviewing the BWTR and
Education and Engagement
educating first. Often, compliance can be achieved
adjusting rosters.
Leading up the deadlines in the Order, there has been
through a phone call or a ‘remote workplace
The PCBU must also have clear information, and
a significant amount of broad and targeted education
assessment’.
provide this to MoH on request, for how they will
undertaken by MoH, DHBs, clinical experts and other
WorkSafe will balance enforcement of the Vaccination  manage workers who decide not to get vaccinated and
government agencies, with the sectors concerned,
Order with the other duties on PCBUs (e.g. supporting
ensure no worker undertakes certain work after the
including sector meetings, newsletters, targeted
surveillance testing, distancing etc). From time-to-
specific timeframes.
vaccination bulletins, published guidance and
time WorkSafe may be required to prioritise activity

collateral relating to vaccine efficacy produced and
based on risk / harm profiles. At the highest level,
s9(2)(b)(ii) OIA

disseminated in several languages.
COVID-19 activity in high-risk border settings would

likely take precedence over lower-level compliance,

such as QR code display in retail.
MoH will check the BWTR and CIR for vaccination

status, including checks with MIQF as appropriate.
From time-to-time WorkSafe undertakes more

Where there are unvaccinated workers showing on
complex interventions, such as the Complex

the BWTR, MoH will contact the relevant PCBU about
Assessment of the Port of Tauranga. This work is

the accuracy of data and actions required to comply.
normally reserved for high-risk settings (e.g. borde )

MoH is required to make the records of noncompliant
where there are multiple hazards, concerns and

affected persons available to WorkSafe
PCBUs in operation. The Port of Tauranga assessment

looked broadly at COVID-19 compliance  e.g.

availability of testing, physical distancing etc)
Specific monitoring and engagement

following concerns raised by unions and workers.

Last week the MoH Compliance and Monitoring team
The types of things WorkSaf  commonly looks at are:

contacted all PCBUs of unvaccinated privately-
  PCBU systems and processes

employed workers (at the time 493 workers)
  whether reasonable steps had been taken to

reminding them of their duties and seeking
ensure compliance

information about their plans for each person who


remains unvaccinated.
training provided / expectation-setting
  record-keeping, policies and documentation

65 of 149 private employers on the BWTR have all
under the Official Information Act 1982
  worker engagement, participation and

their privately employed active border workforce fully
r presentation processes.

vaccinated.

As at 22 September, there were 72 of 269 PCBUs on

the BWTR who are showing as having unvaccinated

workers.

However more than 75% of the unvaccinated workers

fall within 15 PCBUs representing both the air and

BEB RPT 21/054 – 23 September 2021
IN CONFIDENCE
8 of 10

Released

under the Official Information Act 1982
Released