Health and safety management
Find health and safety guidance specific to school property, traffic and school transport.
| Level of compliance | Main audience | Other |
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Roles and responsibilities
Health and Safety is everyone’s responsibility.
The Health and Safety at Work Act 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) such as the Ministry of Education, School Boards, Contractors and Consultants, to consult, cooperate and coordinate activities with other PCBUs who share health and safety duties on the same matter.
Consulting with PCBUs factsheet [PDF, 363 KB]
Multiple PCBUs – upstreaming businesses(external link)
Overlapping duties under the HSWA(external link)
Health and safety management
| Managing contractors | |
|---|---|
| Requirements for operating during COVID-19 levels | Operating school construction projects safely during COVID-19 Alert Levels |
| 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 during 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(external link) |
| YouTube resource | Worker participation: If it doesn’t look right call it(external link) |
| Learn about the charter and its signatories | Health and Safety Charter(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 website(external link) |
| WorkSafe resource | Particular hazardous work (Notifiable works) – WorkSafe website(external link) |
| Urgent work | |
|---|---|
| What to do if an urgent issue is identified | Urgent health and safety work |
| Hazardous materials and substances | |
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| Advice for managing the risks | Chromated copper arsenate (CCA) treated timber in schools |
| Types, standards, maintenance advice | Glass installed in schools |
| Information, resources, the Code of Practice | 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 website(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 | |
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| 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' | |
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| Advice, resources, legal responsibilities | Building warrants of fitness for school facilities |
| Vehicles | |
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| Advice, paying for, resources | |
| Guidelines for reporting accidents | Accidents and incidents on school transport |
| Advice for managing students who use busses | School transport – Safety and behaviour |
Health and safety responsibilities
Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 – NZ Legislation website(external link)
The following guide is a supplementary resource to support people involved in governance and leadership at schools/kura to develop a clear understanding of what the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 means for them.
Health and safety: practical guide for boards and school leaders
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