Health and Safety at Work - A Primary Duty of Care - Part 2

Thursday November 23, 2023 17:12

In the November issue of this two-part report we examined the duties of business owners, directors and senior managers in regard to health and safety at work.
In this second part we want to explore how best these requirements can be met to identify ways to improve H&S compliance, enhance wellbeing in the workplace and minimise overall risk to adverse events.

We now know that as a PCBU and/or as an officer of a PCBU you have to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the health and safety of your workers, and other workers whose activities you influence or direct.
There is a lot involved, much to know and do, information to be documented, records to be kept and workers to be engaged and encouraged to participate in health and safety. Essentially, you need a plan. Health and safety is a critical part of running a business. No matter what you do, or your business structure, having a health and safety plan allows you to see the big picture, as well as identify the details that keep your people safe and reduce your risk.

At Securo, we believe the best way to structure a health and safety plan that will work for you is to establish a comprehensive health and safety management system that covers all requirements - the Health and Safety At Work Act 2015, health and safety regulations and best practice.

As clients, you have your own customised Securo H&S Management Systems Manual (hard copy and electronic), which covers all eight areas of a robust Health and Safety System and is aligned to the requirements of the Health and Safety At Work Act 2015. (HSWA): 

Section 1  - PCBU commitment to safety management practices

Section 2  - Planning, review and evaluation

Section 3  - Hazard identification, assessment and management

Section 4  - Information, training & supervision

Section 5  - Incident/, injury and illness reporting, recording and investigation

Section 6  - Worker participation in health and safety management

Section 7  - Emergency planning and readiness

Section 8  - Protection of workers from on-site work undertaken by contractors and sub-contractor.

Clients also have continuous access to the Securo online electronic system, which includes our Documentation Library with an extensive range of forms, plans, records and templates.  Through this portal you can source the Securo App, safe operating plan templates and most importantly the Securo electronic hazard management tool.

This last feature, which is particularly useful, allows you to easily identify the hazards in your workplace, select from over 200 generic hazard templates, assess the likelihood and consequences of a hazard, put controls in place and document all the work into a comprehensive hazard register.

The core of an effective H&S management system rests within three main parts:

1. Leadership

• Discuss the H&S policy with workers and emphasise the organisations commitment to health and safety.
• Demonstrate at every opportunity that health & safety is the No 1 priority in the workplace.

2. Worker Engagement and Participation

• The HSWA requires all PCBU’s to engage with workers on matters that may affect their health and safety. This includes giving them the opportunity to participate and raise any concerns they may have about health and safety.  Regular toolbox meetings with workers are a good forum for this.

3. Hazard Management

• You need to understand what hazards exist in your workplace.  These need to be identified, assessed and controlled.  Participation of all workers in this process should be encouraged. The above mentioned Securo hazard management tool facilitates this very well.

The role of the Securo consultant:

Your Securo consultant will work with you in the planning process, assist in the implementation of your H&S Management system and help you keep on top of things.

To keep well informed of what is going on in your workplace and the wellbeing of your staff, it is important to monitor H&S issues such as:

• Near misses, injuries, incidents, and work-related ill health.
• Hazard reviews, newly identified hazards and associated risks.
• Absence rates due to general sickness.
• Injury and ill health leave related to work.
• Results of exposure monitoring such as noise levels or chemical exposure.

You may also want to consider an annual overall audit of your facility and documented system, to obtain an independent perspective as well as identifying any weaknesses in your processes and systems.

We want to be all working together, with everyone engaged and participating to ensure we all come home from work healthy and safe each day.

If you have any concerns around this topic or other Health & Safety matters, your Securo Consultant is available to help.

They can also advise on hazard management and provide access to specialist health professionals for health monitoring services, so please give them a call or alternatively, you can contact Securo’s head office on 0800 55 33 44.

Parts of the information in this newsletter has been derived from guidance documents published by WorkSafe NZ which are available at www.worksafe.govt.nz and parts of the Health and Safety At Work Act – 2015.