Industrial and Safety - Product safety

Industrial and Safety commits to providing customers with safe products by continuing to improve standards, controls and processes in high-risk product safety areas, especially for own-brand products. As a technical services business, Greencap focuses on delivering high-quality client service.

The division maintained zero own-brand product recalls, supported by critical paths within the sourcing and new product development workflow for factory and product level compliance. Where supplier products are subject to recalls, Blackwoods, Bullivants and NZ Safety Blackwoods publish recall notices on their websites.

Blackwoods launched its revised Supplier Assurance and Risk Management Program — an improvement opportunity identified in the approach to due diligence of national and international brands. The initiative aims to better understand suppliers’ performance across a range of operational activities, such as product safety, quality, compliance and testing, responsible sourcing and general operational compliance. To date, 67 suppliers have been engaged as part of a phased rollout plan.

Coregas is part of the Australia New Zealand Industrial Gas Association product stewardship working group and maintained its position well below its faulty product return and product non-conformance targets.

NZ Safety Blackwoods introduced a quality issue reporting framework which allows the business to effectively record, track and escalate issues. It conducted regular risk assessments and inspections for all goods manufactured directly to maintain quality, safety, and compliance. The business will continue working towards achieving ISO 9001 Quality Management System framework and accreditation in the 2023 financial year.

Workwear Group ensured suppliers remain compliant to the Quality Assurance Inspections Program, with in-country teams maintaining regular communication with suppliers. Where possible, in-country Quality Control teams delivered training at factories so quality standards are not compromised. With the Hard Yakka and King Gee international expansion, Workwear Group collaborated with international certification bodies in Europe, America, United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates, for high-risk certified products to meet the compliance requirements within these markets.