Why is Industry Guidance for Site Access necessary?
CHASNZ has been working hard to better connect the New Zealand construction industry on matters of health and safety. Through this work, it is clear that there are variations in requirements for people to gain access to sites and other construction work areas. Those responsible under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 Act for managing or controlling a construction worksite have a specific duty to control the means of entering and exiting the workspace. Workers entering sites also have the duty to comply with the reasonable instructions of those controlling or managing the site. Effective training and on job experience backed up by an objective assessment of a person’s knowledge followed by appropriate levels of supervision is an important means for all parties carrying out these duties under the Act.
These are broken down into four key areas:
- Basic principles and legal obligation of reporting health and safety related incidents, unsafe acts, behaviours, culture, and conditions.
- The right to refuse to undertake work that is beyond worker competency and ability.
- How to react to changing situations where a worker is at risk.
- Creating a more competent workforce with the confidence in their capability to do their jobs safely.
- Provides assurance that every worker onsite understands the same things, in order to carry out their jobs safely.
- Workers who understand where their knowledge gaps are have confidence that these are minor and should reassess as soon as possible.
- Site specific inductions should build knowledge and focus on how to apply it when on site.
- In safety critical environments consideration should be given to enhanced training to address specific hazard and risk profiles.
- Site inductions should focus on risks and controls specific to the site or contract.
- Direct supervision is working one on one with the person you are supervising. Typically, this type of supervision is for inexperienced workers when a complex or higher risk task is being undertaken.
- Indirect supervision is the most common form of supervision. This requires face to face contact on a regular basis.
- Remote supervision may be used when a supervisor is working across more than one geographical area or site.
