Construction & Trades · Employer knowledge

Health, safety & risk

Start with the work risks your business creates or influences, then make responsibilities, controls, coordination and worker preparation visible.

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA), a PCBU has a primary duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of its workers and workers whose activities it influences or directs, and to ensure other people are not put at risk by its work. This includes safe work environments, plant and structures, systems of work, and necessary information, training, instruction or supervision.

Construction sites commonly involve several PCBUs. Where duties overlap, PCBUs must, so far as is reasonably practicable, consult, cooperate and coordinate activities. A business cannot contract out of its health and safety duties.

What should a manager have in place?

Use arrangements that fit the scale, complexity and risks of the work. The aim is effective risk management and coordination — not paperwork for its own sake.

Work-risk managementIdentify hazards and risks arising from the work, eliminate risks so far as is reasonably practicable, and where elimination is not reasonably practicable, minimise them so far as is reasonably practicable. Review controls as work or conditions change.

Contractor & PCBU coordinationIdentify overlapping duties, exchange relevant risk information, agree who is best placed to manage particular matters, and monitor whether arrangements are working.

Worker information & preparationProvide the information, training, instruction and supervision necessary for the work and risks. Site or task induction may form part of this, depending on the work.

Incident, emergency & follow-upHave practical arrangements for incidents and emergencies, including recognising when an event may be notifiable to WorkSafe and preserving the site where the law requires it.

Manager check

Can we identify the significant work risks created or influenced by our business and explain the controls in place?
Where other PCBUs are involved, have we identified overlapping duties and agreed how we will consult, cooperate and coordinate?
Do workers and contractors receive the information, training, instruction or supervision needed for the work they actually perform?
Are controls reviewed when the site, task, people, plant, substances or work conditions change?
Can the responsible manager show how incidents, unsafe conditions and agreed actions are followed through?

Check current WorkSafe construction guidance →Back to Construction & Trades Hub

NZQC provides practical educational information. It is not legal advice and does not certify that a provider is compliant. Check the official source and the requirements that apply to your service, contracts and scope.