Health & Safety - Where Do You Start?
By Jason Shepherdson, H&S Consultant, SBS
Probably the statement that I hear the most – “I just don’t know where to start?”
Sometimes it’s posed as a question “Jason, if you were running a business – what or where would you focus your attention regarding health & safety priorities?”
I have held General Manager level roles within a couple of large (250-300 employees) businesses in NZ, and the following would certainly be where I prioritised my time. Number one is definitely the highest of priorities – accepting that if you are identifying and managing Risk effectively – then there are no incidents! I’m not necessarily saying that is realistic, but is a true statement in principle.
The rest are all equally important, some may rise higher up the list, depending on your business type eg. a business that engages contractors to conduct high-risk works would certainly focus Contractor Management much higher in the list.
1. Risk Management
A core compliance requirement is systematic identification, assessment, and control of risks. The Officer should:
· Ensure all workplace hazards are regularly reviewed and that effective control measures (elimination, minimisation) are in place.
· Promote employee involvement in hazard identification and incident reporting.
· Oversee critical risk management — focusing on high-consequence hazards (e.g. vehicles, machinery, working at heights, or fatigue).
2. Worker Engagement, Participation, and Representation
Compliance requires effective consultation with workers. The Officer should:
· Establish Health & Safety Representatives (HSRs) and committees where appropriate.
· Encourage open reporting of near-misses and incidents without fear of reprisal.
· Regularly communicate outcomes from investigations and improvements made.
3. Training and Competency
The Officer must ensure all workers and contractors are competent and trained for their roles:
· Maintain training plans and records for induction, emergency procedures, and role-specific safety training.
· Assess contractor competency and ensure they understand site-specific H&S requirements.
· Provide ongoing supervision and refreshers for high-risk work.
4. Incident Management and Continuous Improvement
Demonstrating good compliance means showing responsiveness and learning from incidents:
· Ensure incident reporting, investigation, and corrective actions are prompt and documented.
· Review lag and lead indicators (e.g. incident rates vs. safety observations) to identify trends.
· Use findings to improve systems and culture — embedding lessons into operational procedures.
5. Reporting and Governance
Robust H&S reporting ensures transparency and accountability:
· Present regular reports to the board or leadership team covering incidents, audits, training, and compliance status.
· Track progress against H&S objectives and KPIs.
· Ensure all WorkSafe notifications are made in a timely manner.
6. Leadership and Due Diligence
A "Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking" (PCBU) Officer duty under HSWA. This means they must:
· Actively lead H&S culture — demonstrate visible commitment through participation in safety meetings, site visits, and regular communication.
· Keep informed — stay updated on workplace risks, legislative requirements, and WorkSafe guidance.
· Verify compliance — ensure that safety systems are implemented and effective through audits, inspections, and reviews.
· Allocate resources — provide adequate staffing, training, and funding for H&S initiatives.
7. Emergency Preparedness and Welfare
· Ensure the business has effective emergency plans and conducts regular drills.
· Provide first aid facilities, welfare provisions, and mental wellbeing support.
· Review response plans following any emergency or near-miss.
8. Contractor and Supply Chain Management
Under the HSWA, duty holders must consult, cooperate, and coordinate with others. An Officer should:
· Verify that contractors have robust safety systems before engagement.
· Monitor contractor performance and ensure accountability for H&S outcomes.
· Ensure shared worksites have clear responsibility and communication protocols between all PCBUs involved – this is referred to as Overlapping Duties.
Please note, this information is not meant as legal advice and readers are strongly advised to consult an appropriate subject matter expert regarding queries about a particular employment situation. For more information on anything H&S, get in touch with a member of the SBS H&S Team. Freephone 0508 424 723 or www.safebusiness.co.nz.