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Health and safety basics
Having great health and safety practices is just part of having a great business. And, depending on what you’re already doing about keeping people healthy and safe, it’s not as hard, expensive or time-consuming as you might think.
Think about your business and its risks
What’s important is that you treat health and safety as part of your day-to-day business and manage it proportionately to the level of risk at your work. This means the greater the risks you have, the more vigilant you need to be. Businesses must always consider first whether they can reasonably eliminate risks. If not, do what is reasonably achievable to minimise risks.
- Advice on what 'reasonably practicable' means
- Tips on emergency planning
- Tips on continuity and contingency planning
- How to manage work risks (external link)— WorkSafe
In addition to setting out routine health and safety practices, you’re also legally obliged to be prepared for, and have a plan on what to do after, an emergency or disaster.
Many small businesses think by law they must write their health and safety efforts down on paper.
While this can be useful for some businesses, it’s not a legal requirement and much simpler practices could actually work better.
Putting health and safety into action
Luckily, health and safety is not something you have to do alone. Everyone at your work has a role to play in watching each other’s back, identifying and managing risks, and ensuring a healthy, safe and incident-free work environment. Health and safety plans don’t necessarily require lots of paperwork or expensive equipment. Apart from obvious benefits such as worker wellbeing, it also helps:
- increase productivity
- reduce worker absenteeism
- give your business a strong image
- bring peace of mind to workers and owners
- fulfil your legal responsibilities
- open the door to tender opportunities and winning new work
- keep customers happy.
Use SafePlus online tool
WorkSafe’s SafePlus online tool is a free health and safety survey. SafePlus asks everyone in your business to rate how well health and safety is working in key areas and compares the results with good practice. You’ll then get a report with advice and guidance for making improvements based on your team’s responses.
SafePlus(external link) — SafePlus.nz
Health and safety representatives, committees, and expert help
Any business can arrange for one of its workers to be a health and safety representative or set up a health and safety committee.
Some businesses must have a rep, or consider a committee, if requested by workers. These are businesses with 20+ workers or those classed by law as being high-risk.
Health and safety expert help
While most small businesses are well placed to take care of their own health and safety needs, some businesses may feel more comfortable getting specialist help — particularly if they work in risky industries or have more complicated or technical issues to deal with.
Spend 5 minutes reading what kinds of advisors are out there to figure out who might be most suitable for your needs. You can do this on the Health and Safety Association of New Zealand (HASANZ) website, the new national umbrella organisation of health and safety professionals.
Health and Safety Association of New Zealand (HASANZ)(external link)
Questions to ask a potential health and safety advisor
If expert help is what you need, asking these questions will help you choose the right person for the job:
Can I get a quote first?
If you ring a plumber for help, you ask for a quote first. The same goes for health and safety consultants, so shop around. Just remember, cheaper doesn’t mean better. Whoever you go with should still have the right experience and qualifications.
Can I see examples of your health and safety work for similar clients?
Ring a few advisors who seem a good fit for your needs, and ask if they can give examples of similar health and safety work they’ve done recently.
Can I check your credentials?
Unfortunately, not all health and safety advisors give good advice, or are even accredited. Before handing over any money, check that they’re competent to advise you on your particular health and safety needs.
Can I contact previous customers?
Make sure your advisor can do all they say they can. Check if they have a history of providing practical health and safety advice that supports business operations. Getting recommendations from other customers is a good way to go about this.
Things to watch out for when using a health and safety advisor
Here are a few signs that the health and safety advisor you’re using is following good or bad practices.
| Good Practice | Bad Practice |
|---|---|
| They give practical assistance. | They give you a manual or some other written document that’ll probably just sit on your shelf. |
| They ask you and your workers lots of questions and involve you in the process. | They don’t ask you or your workers about your business or everyday operations. |
| They’re very clear about what the process is, as well as timelines involved. | They’re not specific about what they’re going to do. |
| When asked, they show their qualifications. | They’re reluctant to let you speak to other clients and aren’t forthcoming about their professional credentials. |
| They want you to build your ability to manage your own health and safety risks. | They keep trying to sell you more services. |
Which laws apply to your business?
Use our Compliance Matters tool to find out the legal requirements you and your business must follow.
You can tailor your search by topic — for example, taxes, exporting or health and safety — or to suit your industry or business structure.
