Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 Cheat Sheet

The Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 establishes a framework for workplace safety, outlining the primary duties of Persons Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBUs) and the responsibilities of employees to ensure a safe working environment for all.

Core Principles

PCBUs have the primary duty of care for workplace health and safety.
Health and safety is ensured by reasonably practicable measures.
Employees must take reasonable care for their own safety and that of others.
Shared responsibility between employers and employees is key.
Proactive hazard identification and risk management are crucial.
Consultation and involvement of employees in safety decisions are mandatory.
Clear emergency procedures are essential for rapid response.
Reporting of incidents and hazards is vital for prevention.

Action Steps

Identify all potential workplace hazards.
Assess the risks associated with each hazard.
Implement control measures to eliminate or minimize risks.
Provide and maintain safe equipment and systems of work.
Ensure workers receive adequate training and supervision.
Consult with employees on health and safety matters.
Establish and maintain clear emergency procedures.
Take reasonable care for your own health and safety.
Ensure your actions do not endanger others.
Follow all health and safety instructions and policies.
Use equipment correctly and report any defects.
Report all hazards, risks, and incidents promptly.
Notify WorkSafe NZ of notifiable events.
Preserve incident scenes as required.
Investigate the causes of serious incidents.
Implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence.

Key Terms

PCBU: Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking; the employer with the primary duty of care.
Primary Duty of Care: The obligation of a PCBU to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers and others.
Reasonably Practicable: Measures that are reasonably able to be carried out, considering the likelihood of a hazard or risk and the degree of harm.
Notifiable Event: A serious workplace incident that must be reported to WorkSafe NZ.

Timeline

2015: Health and Safety at Work Act enacted.
Post-Enactment: PCBUs implement primary duty of care obligations.
Ongoing: Employees actively participate in workplace safety.
Upon Incident: PCBUs notify WorkSafe NZ of notifiable events.
Post-Incident: Incident investigation and corrective actions are undertaken.

People

Persons Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBUs): Primary responsibility for ensuring workplace health and safety.
Employees: Responsibility for their own safety and the safety of others; must follow procedures.
WorkSafe New Zealand: Regulatory body responsible for overseeing and enforcing health and safety legislation.