Professional development in health and safety
Boards or early learning services are PCBUs (Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking). They have a duty to manage workplace risks, and inform their workers of health monitoring among other health and safety responsibilities outlined in Regulations 2016. Professional development in health and safety supports PCBUs to be compliant and also strengthens the capabilities of workers to maintain a safe and happy work environment.
Level of compliance | Main audience | Other |
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Recommended |
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This guidance supports schools and early learning services with health and safety training recommendations that help meet statutory duties and requirements as PCBUs.
- Benefits of health and safety training
- Training recommendations for workers
- Induction training for new staff
- Emergency procedure training
- Tools and resources for schools and early learning services
Benefits of health and safety training
For management |
For the worker |
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Training recommendations for workers
Health and safety (H&S) training must benefit the safety of workers in the workplace. Training should include:
- induction training covering health and safety
- knowing the H&S responsibilities of the board, early learning services and all staff
- risk identification and management
- incident recording and reporting, including near hits and misses
- safe work procedures
- safe use of all equipment relevant to the worker’s duties
- safe use, storage and maintenance of personal protective equipment
- safe use and storage of hazardous substances
- role-specific training for those with H&S responsibilities in the workplace, for example, HSRs
- emergency procedures, including evacuation procedures and use of emergency equipment.
Induction training for new staff
Induction training for new workers should:
- include a full health and safety briefing on workplace hazards and safe working methods
- identify and explain existing and potential workplace hazards
- explain the person’s H&S responsibilities
- explain staff reporting requirements for incidents and accidents
- introduce the H&S representative, fire warden, and first aider
- explain any emergency and evacuation plans
- show the location of first aid kits, Civil Defence kits, phones, fire extinguishers, fire alarms, emergency exits, emergency meeting points
- explain any compulsory personal protective equipment and safety gear, and why it must be used.
WorkSafe’s induction video provides staff with a high level overview of their rights and responsibilities when it comes to health and safety. It will also help staff and management to better understand WorkSafe’s expectations about health and safety attitudes and behaviours.
WorkSafe induction video
Emergency procedure training
Training in emergency procedures should include:
- types of emergencies that may occur, including fire, medical emergency, natural disasters, hazardous substances, violent confrontations or threats, and explosions (of boilers or gas bottles)
- evacuation procedures, including emergency exits and assembly areas
- location of emergency equipment, e.g. fire extinguishers
- procedures for notification of emergency services at the earliest opportunity
- first aid arrangements and the location of the first aid kit
- how to safely shut down machinery, plant or equipment.
Tools and resources for schools and early learning services
- Tool 22: Information and training checklist — Word version
- Tool 23: Induction checklist — Word version [DOCX, 19 KB]
- Tool 24: Worker’s health and safety training plan and record — Word version [DOCX, 16 KB]
- An introduction to health, safety and wellbeing — NZSTA website(external link)
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