Protect health and safety in the workplace/Activities/Rights and responsibilities of employers and employees in the New Zealand Health and Safety Act

Objective
The following learning activities will enable students to identify and explain legislative rights and responsibilities in relation to workplace health and safety.

Employers
Employers have responsibilities under the New Zealand Health and Safety Act to their employees.

1. Scenario: If you were running a large gardening business you would have to take all practicable steps to insure the safety of your employees.

a) What does "all practicable steps" mean?

b) List five responsibilities that the employer has to employees.

2. Scenario: As the employer for a large gardening business you are required to provide your employees with personal protective clothing and equipment. You have a substantial budget for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and your boss has asked you to assist her in preparing a Hazard Register.

a) So make a list of the clothing and equipment you will provide for your employees.

b) List as many hazards as you can think of in relation to what your employees may encounter when they are involved in garden maintenance work in a public garden.

c) From the list of hazards you have identified choose five and explain how you would manage these hazards.

3. Scenario: As an employer at a large landscaping and garden maintenance business you are to provide supervision and training for your employees. Explain how you would implement this requirement.

a) You have a large budget for this important duty so identify every type of training that would benefit your employees and in turn create a safer place to work.

b) Create a list of training providers in your local area and include their contact details, fees and other relevant information about their courses

4. Scenario: Under the Act, employers must do everything that is reasonably practicable to make sure that all employees who do work either: have knowledge and experience of relevant similar workplaces, work, equipment, or substances; or are supervised by a person who has that knowledge or experience.

a) As an employer at a large landscaping and garden maintenance business you need to set up game plan to fulfill these expectations; how will you do this?

Employees
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1. You're an employee working with Sam the retail assistant. Watch this video as you are witness to her accident (warning, this video contains graphic images and audio):

a) Prepare an incident report based on what you have witnessed b) After completing the incident report, write up ideas to manage the hazards evident in this activity. Use the the hierarchy of hazard management controls:
 * 1) Eliminate
 * 2) Isolate
 * 3) Minimize

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2. You're a kitchen hand working with Elizabeth the sou chef. Watch this video as you are witness to her shocking accident (warning, this video contains graphic images audio):

a) Prepare an incident report based on what you have witnessed b) After completing the incident report, write up ideas to manage the hazards evident in this activity. Use the the hierarchy of hazard management controls:
 * 1) Eliminate
 * 2) Isolate
 * 3) Minimize

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3. You're an employee working with Jim the folk lift driver. Watch this video as you are witness his accident (warning, this video contains graphic images and audio):

a) Prepare an incident report based on what you have witnessed b) After completing the incident report, write up ideas to manage the hazards evident in this activity. Use the the hierarchy of hazard management controls:
 * 1) Eliminate
 * 2) Isolate
 * 3) Minimize

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4. You're a fellow student of Patrick's in your building course. Watch this video. While you did not witness Patrick's actual accident, because you were the only one in the workshop at the time, you've been asked to write down what you saw and how you THINK the accident may have happened... (this video is not as graphic as the other shockas!):

a) Prepare an incident report based on what you saw b) Write up a theory on how you think the accident occured b) After completing the incident report and accident theory, write up ideas to manage the hazards evident in this activity. Use the the hierarchy of hazard management controls:
 * 1) Eliminate
 * 2) Isolate
 * 3) Minimize

Support materials

 * List all the links to resources used in the activity
 * A handy glossary for health and safety which includes a definition of hazards
 * List any other resources that may be useful (further readings, related units or other activities)