SHINe researchers showcased their work on decluttering health and safety management systems at the Safeguard National Health & Safety Conference 2026 in New Zealand.
SHINe researchers Rita Peihua Zhang and Payam Pirzadeh, together with Advisory Board member Scott McMillan, attended the Safeguard National Health & Safety Conference 2026 at Viaduct Harbour from 22–24 June.
The conference brought together the health & safety community to explore this year’s theme, The Power to Influence.
Rita and Scott presented SHINe’s inaugural project on decluttering WHS management systems in the construction industry. The presentation covered:
- Scott’s experience as the industry lead for the project, including his reflections on the value of academic–industry collaboration in generating practical impact
- The project process, explained by Rita, including how the research was undertaken and translated into practical outputs
- An evidence-informed practical tool designed to support a collaborative approach to decluttering, and
- The current trial of the tool on real-life construction projects to generate evidence of its practical impact.
The presentation resonated strongly with conference delegates, many of whom shared similar experiences relating to safety clutter. The discussion highlighted opportunities to apply the decluttering tool across different industry contexts.
While in New Zealand, Rita, Scott and Payam also met with Chris Alderson from SHINe member organisation Construction Health and Safety New Zealand (CHASNZ) to discuss potential research ideas and future collaboration opportunities.
