Health and safety management

Find health and safety guidance specific to school property, traffic and school transport.

Level of compliance Main audience Other

Required

  • Boards
  • Principals and Tumuaki
  • Proprietors
  • Third Party Contractors
  • General staff and Administrators
  • Teachers and Kaiako
  • Health and Safety Officer(s)
  • General Public

Roles and responsibilities

Health and safety is everyone’s responsibility.

The Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 introduced a new approach to workplace health and safety by adopting broad coverage and involving all types of modern business and working relationships.

The Act requires persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) to consult, cooperate and coordinate activities with other PCBUs who share health and safety duties on the same matter.

This includes:

  • the Ministry of Education
  • school boards
  • contractors
  • consultants.

Consulting with PCBUs factsheet [PDF, 206 KB]

WorkSafe NZ: Multiple PCBUs – YouTube(external link)

WorkSafe NZ: Overlapping duties – YouTube
(external link)

Health and safety management

Managing contractors
Responsibilities when engaging a contractor

Property projects: Managing contractor health and safety

Health and safety during a project

Role of the board during a school property project

Responsibilities, risk management information

Role of the project manager in school property projects

Responsibilities, risk management during construction

Construction phase

When and how to get a police vet for contractors Police vetting for school property contractors
YouTube resource Keeping safe on a construction site – WorkSafe(external link)
YouTube resource  Worker participation: If it doesn’t look right call it – WorkSafe(external link)
Critical risk activities
Processes, regulations, resources Managing asbestos in schools
Health and safety responsibilities around safe use Electrical equipment testing in schools
Standards, guidance and information Electrical work in schools
WorkSafe resource Planning entry and working safely in a confined space – WorkSafe (external link)
WorkSafe resource  Particular hazardous work (Notifiable works) – WorkSafe(external link)
Urgent work
What to do if an urgent issue is identified Urgent health and safety work
Hazardous materials and substances
Advice for managing the risks Chromated copper arsenate (CCA) treated timber in schools
Types, standards, maintenance advice Glass installed in schools
Information, resources and guidance Hazardous substances on school sites
Information and advice Lead-based paint
Advice, resources PCBs in light fittings
Information, resources Poisonous plants
Helpful advice Moulds and fungi
WorkSafe resources Managing your lab's hazardous substances – WorkSafe(external link)
Facilities and fixtures
Funding, maintenance and disposal advice Boilers for school heating
What is and isn't allowed Cellphone towers on school sites
Design standards, maintenance and other advice Lifts in schools
Installation and design advice Fencing at schools
Information and operational advice Joinery and hardware installed in schools
Information, resources and maintenance advice Septic tanks on school sites
Links to helpful resources Swimming pools at schools
Advice for schools, teachers and general staff Managing thermal comfort in classrooms
Drinking water  
Causes, how to deal, paying for Backflow prevention
Town or self-supply information Drinking water quality
Weathertightness
Information, downloadable resources Weathertightness remediation
Fire
Requirements, advice, resources Fire safety design requirements (including developing evacuation procedures)
Requirements and advice Fire safety
'Specified systems and features'
Advice, resources, legal responsibilities Building warrants of fitness for school facilities
Vehicles
Advice, paying for, resources

Traffic management

Guidelines for reporting accidents Accidents and incidents on school transport
Advice for managing students who use buses Safety and behaviour on school transport

Health and safety responsibilities

Health, safety and wellbeing

Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 – NZ Legislation(external link)

 

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