​What do you do when you take on a new employee? Obviously training is a priority. The individual needs to become productive as quickly as possible.
As part of that process the new staff member needs to be inducted into your Health and Safety processes. For their sake and for yours. I’m sure you are aware that a safe worker is a more productive worker. (Not to mention your responsibility under the Health and Safety Act).
One of the things I ask business owners is “Do you have a written statement around your firms Commitment to Health and Safety”. If you do, get your new employee to read over it. It should include detail around your commitment as business owner and the staff’s commitment. You are in this together. (If you don’t have a written statement, flick me an email, I will give you some examples. No charge for that).
Of course a written employment contract is a legal requirement for new employees (and all employee’s).
Have a look at the following webpage from the ministry of Business and Innovation. It provides an excellent process for customising employment contracts. You just go though it step by step and print it off. It tells you what is mandatory and what is optional. It includes a great section around general workplace rules that the employee is expected to follow, rules around Kiwisaver, overtime, how to handle work related expenses, mobile phones, work vehicles, public holidays, annual leave, sick leave, health and safety, drug and alcohol testing, resolving conflict, serious misconduct and much more.
https://eab.business.govt.nz/employmentagreementbuilder/startscreen/
 
Here’s a statement from their webpage:
“Our new Employment Agreement Builder helps you create contracts tailored to your business and to each person you employ. It’s packed with tips to help you decide what to put in your agreement — and what NOT to put in. It covers what you must do by law, and also sets out common mistakes made by employers and how to avoid them.”
Trusting the last month has been a productive one for your business,

​So what do you do when one of your staff goes out of your work place to another workplace to carry out a job? 
 
Best practice is :
 
   1   Your employee is trained around H&S measures they are likely to need when they arrive on site. They need an idea of what they are going to face.
 
Sometimes we think common sense prevails. But it doesn’t always. (Like the guy who stuck a ladder on the deck of a elevated mobile platform and fell off. He only fell a few meters, but was seriously injured)!
 
   2   There should be an induction process when the employee arrives on site. If it’s the same business that he/she has been going to for the last 5 years and it’s a low risk situation, there doesn’t need to be an induction every time (unless of course there are changes in hazards and risks faced.) There should also be a refresher from time to time.
 
 
Trust that’s of some use!

​A couple of weeks ago we sent out a survey concerning Health and Safety. Here's a couple of responses that you may find of interest.
 

• 43% said “An Independent Health and Safety Adviser available at any time would be useful”
• 44% said” Sort most of it myself with an Independent Health and Safety Adviser available to sort the big stuff.”

 
If you think you fall into either of those categories and would like to discuss how this might work for your business, flick an email back and I will be in touch.
 
Remember as a family business, with low overheads, we will not be beaten on price

Health and Safety may seem like a pain for small business owners. Yet even a low cost Health and Safety Plan can save dollars.
Its been shown that a safe working environment, not only means less time off work, (therefore saving money) but also makes employee's feel like the boss cares for them.
We handle the Health and Safety needs for 130 clients. Being a family business our overheads are low . We pass the cost savings onto you, saving you money on Health and Safety.
A recent survey we carried out showed that 43% of business owners find Health and Safety a pain.
44% said they would like to use a Health and Safety adviser available at any time at a reasonable cost.
43% said they would handle the day to day Health and Safety themselves, but use an external Health and Safety adviser for the big stuff.
Bob Sinclair is a qualified Health and Safety Adviser, specialising in Small to Medium Size Business. 
​txt 0274597296 for a quote. You maybe surprised.