Protect health and safety in the workplace

Based on NZQA 497

People credited with this unit standard are able to: identify and describe legislative rights and responsibilities for workplace health and safety; describe the systems approach to workplace health and safety; and explain how hazards are defined in the HSE Act.


 * Library of Resources
 * Learning Activities

This unit is used in the following courses

 * Horticulture

Identify and describe legislative rights and responsibilities for workplace health and safety
Range: responsibilities include but are not limited to – taking all practicable steps to ensure the safety of employees, providing personal protective clothing and equipment, managing hazards, providing supervision and training. Range: responsibilities and rights include but are not limited to – protecting the health and safety of self and others, using protective clothing and equipment, the right to refuse unsafe work, to be adequately supervised and/or trained.
 * Responsibilities of employers under the HSE Act are identified and described.
 * Responsibilities and rights of employees under the HSE Act are identified and described.

Describe the systems approach to workplace health and safety
Range: principal systems include but are not limited to – emergency procedures, training, employee participation, incident and hazard reporting, hazard management. Range: evidence is required of two examples each of eliminating, isolating, and minimising hazards.
 * The principal systems are described in terms of their requirements.
 * The hierarchy of hazard management controls is described in terms of eliminating, isolating, and minimising hazards.

Explain how hazards are defined in the HSE Act.
Range: evidence is required of examples of four different types of hazards.
 * Hazards are defined in terms of the requirements in the HSE Act.

Create field inspections and checklists to maintain workplace safety
Checklists are essential to maintain safety and quality control of a project. They are also vital to stay compliant with HSE systems.

Find safety checklists to download here: http://safetyculture.io/checklists/construction