Health & Safety under the spotlight

How are you managing the introduction of the new Health and Safety at Work Act? And, what can WorkSafe do to better inform builders about what the changes mean for them?

Firm: A1 Homes Otago/Southland
Principal: Greg Sinnott
Location: Lower/Central South Island
Staff: 10

Like all principals of building businesses, I want my employees and contractors to go home safe and healthy after an honest day’s work. We use WorkSafe’s helpful printed resources, in particular the six-step Overview of Process, to ensure we are taking all reasonably practicable steps to ensure our people are working safely. We also use a health and safety consultant to audit our sites on a regular basis; he advises me if we’re dropping the ball anywhere in terms of maintaining a safe site and safe work practices, and also helps us with documentation. More often than not, people genuinely want to work towards a safer building site and need someone to bounce ideas off, and I think it would be helpful if WorkSafe partnered with businesses in a more constructive manner. There is certainly a place for brandishing the big stick for non-compliance, but the first approach should be about advice and coaching. Creating a culture of fear of prosecution is not helpful and creates an ‘us and them’ culture, which gets in the way of a safe, healthy and cooperative construction industry.

Firm: Tony Riordan Builders
Principal: Tony Riordan
Location: Motueka
Staff: 4

The new laws are way over the top, dreamed up by some bureaucrat with no industry experience and raised under this country’s ever-increasing nanny state.  In regards to the second part of the question, I’d like to see some statistics demonstrating that the changes that have already been made have reduced workplace injury rates. I agree with some of the changes, such as the use of edge protection. On the other hand, requiring power tools to be tagged every three months is expensive and I’m not convinced it has reduced injury rates. I also don’t think WorkSafe has really considered how much stress trying to comply with these changes actually puts on those running smaller businesses – a serious health risk itself. Overall, I’d like to see more sensible regulations implemented with wider industry feedback. To stay compliant now, you have to spend a lot of time on things like paperwork and site inductions. I’ve also started integrating toolbox talks into our smoko breaks. They give everyone the opportunity to bring up any concerns and get the guys discussing health and safety, so they’re consciously thinking about it throughout the day.

Firm: Brian McCormack Builders
Principal: Brian McCormack
Location: Coromandel
Staff: 3

As a committee member of my Registered Master Builders Association branch, I’m pretty up to speed with the new legislation. I don’t think a lot has changed, except that a lot more paperwork is now required. It’s also important to ensure that anybody working on your site, including subcontractors, is aware of any hazards and their own personal responsibilities. I’d recommend that anyone who isn’t already part of a professional association join one. The RMBA has been really good at keeping everyone informed of the legislation changes and how they can ensure compliance, as has the whole industry. I think it’s pretty well under control. I’ve also heard that a lot more WorkSafe inspectors are going to be working on the ground, which I think is a positive step. I hope they’re going to focus on educating people about the changes and, if they see anything wrong on a site, point out how it can be fixed instead of just fining people.

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Email your answer with your full name, contact phone number, company name, number of full-time staff and the city or town in which you’re based to editor@pmundersconstruction.co.nz.

All responses must be submitted by 25 May 2016. The answers to this question will be published in Under Construction July 2016.