Available statistics from the construction industry across the world indicate that over 90 percent of all accidents that occur at construction sites are indeed preventable. The common safety risks identified include employees being struck by construction materials, falls from heights, electrocution and employees being caught between construction machinery. These are safety risks that can be addressed by having a Construction Site Safety Plan.
Like in other countries around the world, New Zealand’s Occupational Health and Safety legislation makes it mandatory for all contractors to prepare and put in place an appropriate safety plan to eliminate or control safety within their construction sites. Contraction companies doing business in New Zealand are required to prepare a Construction Site Safety Plan for every construction project they undertake. This is so because different construction sites present different safety risks.
There are however standard details that all safety plans must embrace. For instance, all safety plans must indicate a construction site’s address, the principle contractor and any sub-contractors involved in the construction. Other details include those of architecture and designer responsible for construction works. Lastly, the plan contains details about when a project commences and expected completion date.
In order to ensure that what a Construction Site Safety Plan contains is actually implemented, all contractors are required to appoint a group of people from amongst employees to oversee the implementation of the plan. As a matter of fact, it is this group that is responsible for preparing a safety plan. Developing an effective safety plan therefore means that the group should have membership drawn from all departments. The names of members are usually captured in the plan as the people responsible for the plan and who employees can report to directly in case of any arising safety issues.
The most important section of a Construction Site Safety Plan is usually the part that deals with communication and rules. It is in this section that employees need to find the necessary procedures of handling construction materials and equipments. It is also in this section that employees need to obtain the necessary instructions on how to handle and communicate safety issues they identify while working.
Like in the US, the different regions of New Zealand have their own mechanisms of enforcing Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) legislations. This is definitely in partnership with the national agency responsible for enforcing the same. Contractors who fail to comply with OHS requirements face stiff penalties, which include financial penalties and in extreme cases, license revocation.
