​In the course of my health and safety work, I’m asked from time to time, “What sort of injury or event should be reported to WorkSafe?”
Meaning - how bad does it need to be, to report?!
To go back a step.  Work related injuries or near misses (or health issues) need to be recorded, internally. It’s not just for the purposes of recording (or more paperwork!)

1) It’s to formally analyse what happened and why it happened and perhaps more importantly, “What we plan to do to prevent reoccurrence”.
This sort of investigation should be carried out impartially and without “blame”. In a small firm it would usually be the business owner or manager that carries it out.

2) It’s important to review incident and accident records on a regular basis. Is there a pattern emerging? E.g. Is the same event repeating? If so, it’s important to sort it.

So, at what level do I report it to WorkSafe?
There are some guidelines outlined on the WorkSafe website here. It outlines specific injuries, events, and health concerns.

This helps sum it up (from WorkSafe);
"All injuries or illnesses that require (or would usually require) a person to be admitted to hospital for immediate treatment are notifiable.
Admitted to a hospital means being admitted to hospital as an inpatient for any length of time – it doesn’t include being taken to the hospital for out-patient treatment by a hospital’s Emergency Department, or for corrective surgery at a later time, such as straightening a broken nose."
 
However, it’s important to read the webpage above (scroll down the page). There are circumstances where a person may not be admitted to hospital, that need to be reported.

Bottom line, if in doubt, report it. You can go online here and answer a few simple questions that will clarify if it needs to be reported, or not.
If you have a minute, go online now, and check it out. You will get a better idea.
 
The above is provided as a guide only. It’s not designed or intended to be specific advice. Please don’t hesitate to come back to us for specific advice

​As a business owner you may need to complete a risk assessment regarding the spread of Covid19 and work completed by vaccinated or non-vaccinated employees.
The government will introduce a new risk assessment process under public health legislation later this year. In the interim, WorkSafe has provided a guideline to follow.

When reading the following, think about the various main tasks that your staff carry out. You may want to identify each main area. For example;  
1) Workshop floor.
2) Front of house (serving customers)
3) Delivery or picking up of goods etc.
Of course these areas will be different for each business.

Guidelines from WorkSafe :
·         How many people does the employee carrying out that work, come into contact with? (very few = lower risk; many = higher risk)

·         How easy will it be to identify the people who the employee comes into contact with? (easy to identify, such as co-workers = lower risk; difficult to identify, such as unknown members of public = higher risk)

·         How close is the employee carrying out the tasks in proximity to other people? (2 metres or more in an outdoor space = lower risk; close physical contact in an indoor environment = higher risk)

·         How long does the work require the employee to be in that proximity to other people? (brief contact = lower risk; lengthy contact = higher risk)

·         Does the work involve regular interaction with people considered at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19, such as people with underlying health conditions? (little to none = lower risk; whole time = higher risk)

·         What is the risk of COVID-19 infection and transmission in the work environment when compared to the risk outside work? (equal to outside work = lower risk; higher than outside work = higher risk)

·         Will the work continue to involve regular interaction with unknown people if the region is at a higher alert level? (no = lower risk; yes = higher risk).

Don't forget to record your results.
This needs to be completed in discussion with your employees and there may be other questions that need to be asked specific to your industry as well.
Some work is required to only be done by a vaccinated employee, more on this here 
 
Further notes from WorkSafe :
·         Employers can require work to be done by a vaccinated employee, if a risk assessment identifies this is necessary for work health and safety purposes. 

·         Your focus in the risk assessment must be on the role – the work being done – rather than the individual performing the role. If you want your employees to be vaccinated for reasons other than work health and safety that is an employment matter.

·         Think about what the work tasks look like for a typical day or week. Identify the risk rating indicated alongside each risk factor. Where a situation is not black and white, a judgement call will need to be made. Advice from a health and safety professional may help you do that.

·         If your risk ratings tend toward higher risk and you are not able to reduce that risk by implementing more controls, you and your employees should consider whether the work should be performed by a vaccinated employee.
 
Please read the full article here 
If you need assistance in implementing this in your workplace, don't hesitate to contact me today!

You may be asking yourself should I be carrying out a Workplace Risk Assessment, due to Covid 19. 

Simply, when any risk presents, an assessment should be carried out, including the possibility of Corona Virus in the workplace. We have a couple of templates that maybe useful to you. Flick me an email and I am more than happy to provide them for you.

Another question you maybe considering :  “Should I carry out an assessment when non vaccinated employee’s may be working with vaccinated employees?”
Again we have information that you may find useful, let me know if this is a concern for you.

​Finally, are you aware that the Resurgence Scheme is still open?
Extract from IRD website :A business or organisation must have experienced at least a 30% drop in revenue or a 30% decline in capital-raising ability over a 7-day period, due to the increased COVID-19 alert level.
Once activated, any business in New Zealand that has experienced a 30% drop in revenue over a 7 day period at the increased alert levels as a result of the alert level increase may be eligible (subject to all other criteria being met).
Full details here : https://www.ird.govt.nz/covid-19/business-and-organisations/resurgence-support-payment

Warm Regards for a safe month, bob

Risk ID is basic to effective safety in the workplace.
UNSURE ABOUT HOW TO APPROACH RISK ASSESSMENT?

The HAZARD is the threat to safety, Say a rotating gear, roller etc on a piece of equipment

The RISK is likely hood of an injury to a worker, (including the seriousness of the injury) if the worker comes in contact with the gear or roller while its turning
If there are no controls, most likely pretty high risk of serious injury.

The CONTROL is what I do to either eliminate or minimise risk

Risk ID can be carried out asking “What if” questions
What if someone tripped over that or fell off there?
What if that fell or burst or Leaked?
What if the hydraulics failed while someone was walking underneath?
What if a customers child wandered into the work area by themselves?
Etc.
You can complete the exercise with your workers, as they need to be involved

Now enter your findings into your firm’s risk register (This register documents : hazards, risks controls) Make your findings part of your firms everyday safe operation

When deciding on controls use what’s called the hierarchy of controls
Go here for more information on the hierarchy of controls and how to use :
https://www.worksafe.govt.nz/topic-and-industry/hazardous-substances/managing/risk-management
(This link is in relation to Hazardous Substances, but the same principles are used for any risk in the workplace

The above is general information only. Need help? Get the advice of a Qualified, Experienced Health and Safety Adviser here to edit.

​Health and Safety is not something you are thinking about constantly. There are so many pressures you face in a day, around staff, productivity, customer expectations, financial concerns, the list goes on.
However it is important to assess whether the safety (and health) controls you have in place are effective and being used by your staff.

• If something goes terribly wrong, you need to know that you did everything possible to mitigate the risk.

WorkSafe provide the following helpful outline :
1)ACT : Take action on lessons learnt
2)PLAN : Assess the risk and identify suitable control measure (Talk with staff about this. )
3)CHECK : Monitor the performance of the control measure. (This includes workers reporting incidents and accidents. These may well show an ineffective control)
4)DO : (implement control measures that effectively eliminate or minimise the risk)
WorkSafe point out that PPE should not be the first or only control. In other words, the risk needs to be reduced or eliminated by other means first.
Here’s the recognised method as outlined in the HS Regulations:
1)Eliminate the risk altogether. If not possible :
2)Substituting a safer method or piece of equipment for the job. (a simple example is using battery operated tools instead of 240v tools. There’s no chance of being electrocuted!)
3)Isolating the risk. This might be fencing off the area being worked on, or putting a noisy piece of kit away from the work area
4)Engineering controls. Eg redesigning the tool to include guards. Or even making sure guards are always used!
5)Administrative controls. Eg Safe methods of work. Rotating jobs to reduce boredom etc
6)PPE. Earplugs, Gloves, Safety glasses etc
Start at the top. Get as many controls as you can in the first five areas. Then “mop up” the residual risk with PPE

​It’s important to check and test, on a regular basis, all equipment that’s being used to ensure safe operation.
I recommend an Equipment and PPE schedule. Go over your gear on a regular basis. Sign off the fact that you have checked it and the date this was carried out. Make a note of any maintenance that needs to be carried out and when you did that. Make a note of any PPE that needs to be replaced and when this was done.
It might just seem like extra paperwork, but a written record is not just proof of maintenance, it helps provide you with a routine around PPE and Servicing your Gear. It might be weekly, monthly or for some gear 3 monthly. It just becomes part of your routine.
If you haven’t a template that you can use and would like one, let me know. No charge.

Some small business owners and employers, find H&S conversations both awkward and difficult — especially if they are trying to get people to change their behavior.
This is often because they:

• feel they’ll be judged for it
• are younger or less experienced than their workers
• don’t like telling qualified people how to do their jobs
• are friends with, or related to, their workers.

 
Despite all this, empowering workers to take appropriate H&S actions — and supporting them to confront anyone not doing so — is a massive H&S step. It’s also an extremely important part of keeping people safe.
If you need to have a conversation about an H&S issue with a worker, a great approach is to follow the five steps below.

Conversations need to be tailored to the audiences and you’ll know how best to speak to your workers.
By following these principles, you’ll know you’re taking a great approach to getting your H&S message across.
 
Steps to talking about H & S issues
Step 1. Approach your worker with a friendly and problem-solving attitude
A major reason workers have unsafe habits is because they’re not aware they’re being unsafe in the first place. Indeed, unsafe behavior is often an ingrained habit. Start these conversations without blame and don’t assume a worker is deliberately being unsafe.
Step 2. Describe their behavior objectively and say why you’re concerned
Be clear and avoid a criticizing tone.
For example, don’t say: “I can’t believe you climbed the ladder that way! Don’t you know what could happen?”
Instead, say something like: “I saw the way you climbed that ladder and I’m concerned you could get hurt.” By explaining it this way, you’re letting the person know you’re personally worried for their welfare.
Step 3. Tell them what action is expected and what the benefits are
Give clear instructions about the right behavior and explain the rationale for this.
For example, say: “I’d prefer that you get someone to hold the ladder for you. We want you to go home safely. If that means taking time to get help, I’d rather you do that than rushing and risk getting hurt.”
Step 4. Check they understand and get a commitment to the new behavior
Studies show that by asking people to commit to a changed behavior they’re more likely to actually change.
After your chat, check they understand what you’re asking of them. Then you could say: “Can I count on you to do this?” or “Do you agree to this?”
Step 5. Tell them you’ll back them up if anyone questions their new behavior, or if they identify a risk on their own
It’s important to lead by example and be consistent with H&S if you’re going to create a new H&S culture. This means saying things like: “If anybody questions why you’re doing it this way, I can help explain it to them and let them know I expect all staff, including me, to do it this way.”