FGC is one of five organisations to receive a grant from ACC to develop projects to help reduce injuries in the workplace.

The $1.5 million grant is part of a $22 million injury prevention programme by ACC that includes the forestry and construction industries and three district health boards.

FGC’s grant will be used to establish the Retail and Supply Chain Health & Safety Sector Group.

It will work with retailers, manufacturers, transporters and suppliers to design systems to improve the safety, health and wellbeing of all employees involved in the creation, supply, delivery, and sale of food and grocery products.

The group will be led by Liz May, a former General Manager of Logistics at Woolworths NZ, who has more than 20 years’ experience in the FMCG sector.

FGC’s Safety Working Group, spearheaded by Chair Gerry Lynch (CEO of Delmaine Fine Foods) and Mike O’Brien (Independent Chair of the Health & Safety Association of NZ), put together the proposal for funding.

ACC Minister Iain Lees-Galloway says the grants “are about supporting business innovation and strengthening leadership on health and safety in our high-risk sectors”.

Group CEO Liz May says the funding will enable the group to meet a critical need in the retail and supply chain sector for industry leadership to drive long-term positive change. “We will be able to drive industry collaboration and a coordinated approach to knowledge sharing and problem solving.

“As a result, we aim to achieve enhanced ownership and responsibility among business leaders for organisational health & safety and a better understanding of risks and impacts so that everyone, be it in logistics or in supermarkets, goes home safe and healthy to their families.”

FGC Chief Executive Katherine Rich says the funding will make the sector a safer place to work.

“FGC and the FMCG sector has always had health & safety top of mind, so this is a natural fit for us, and I look forward to working closely with Liz to help the group achieve its goals.”