Health & Safety

In August 2005, Tradestaff was accredited by ACC to WSMP Tertiary Level Status. This is in recognition of our continued commitment to excellence in Health & Safety management practises. A re-audit in 2007 and 2009 has resulted in Tradestaff retaining this status.

Tradestaff is an active member of the On-Hire Industry National Health & Safety Forum which consists of representatives from the On-Hire Industry, Recruitment & Consulting Services Association (RCSA), ACC, the Council of Trade Unions and Occupational Safety & Health (OSH).

Health & Safety Policy

For further information, please contact Amanda Flavell - National Health & Safety Manager amanda@tradestaff.co.nz

Tradestaff Ltd and it's management are committed to providing and maintaining a safe and healthy working environment for its employees, contractors and visitors using the premises as a place of work. The company is also committed to continuous improvement and will pursue best practice in occupational health and safety and shall comply with the requirements of any relevant legislation.

Tradestaff Ltd and management will work proactively with Tradestaff’s clients to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for our casual employees.

Health and Safety Procedures:

• Effective procedures have been introduced and are maintained to ensure that all workplace hazards are identified and appropriate measures introduced to control these hazards.
• These procedures are reviewed and monitored to take account of changing conditions and circumstances in the workplace.
• Appropriate records are kept of the hazard management programme.
• Management encourage and support employee consultation and participation in the development of health and safety practices.
• All relevant documentation relating to occupational health and safety issues is made available to employees.
• Hazard identification procedures and risk assessment are in place and monitored and regularly updated.
• All employees are trained, supervised and provided with information to undertake their duties safely.
• All personal protective equipment needed to maintain health and safety is provided to employees, and to ensure that they are adequately trained in their proper use, maintenance and storage.
• Visitors will also be provided with appropriate equipment & training as necessary.
• All accidents and incidents are reported to the Health & Safety Representative.
• This policy is monitored and revised every 2 years and following any organisational changes, or changes in legislation or best practices.

Management Responsibilities:

• The Managing Director will take all practicable steps for the responsibility of all aspects of Occupational Health and Safety for Tradestaff employees.
• The Managing Director will provide an appropriate budget for Occupational Health and Safety.
• Management will support the safe and early return to work of injured employees.
• Management shall consult with employees on all health and safety matters that affect them.
• Conduct regular inspections of worksites to ascertain that they meet safety requirements.
• Management will comply with all applicable legislation, amendments, regulations, standards and codes of practice.
• Adequate training, information, instruction and supervision shall be provided.
• Contractors and visitors shall be made aware of safety procedures.
• Management shall respond promptly to any health and safety issues brought to their attention.
• All accidents and near misses are properly recorded, reported and investigated.
• All senior management & designated health & safety personnel responsibilities are included in their job description and shall be reviewed as required.

Employees Responsibilities:

• All employees are responsible for carrying out work in a way that does not adversely affect their own health and safety and that of other workers.
• All employees shall learn and understand the health and safety rules and will comply with them.
• Employees must be certain that they completely understand instruction before starting work, avoid taking short cuts and always use safe work practices.
• Employees shall correctly use any information, training, personal protective equipment and safety devices provided.
• If in doubt about the safety of a task, employees must stop and get instructions before continuing.
• Employees shall make sure they understand exactly what their responsibilities are in emergencies.
• Employees must know how and where Health and Safety advice can be obtained.
• Employees must report all accidents and unsafe conditions to their Manager or Health & Safety Representative.

The Health and Safety Committee:

• The Health and Safety Committee includes senior management representatives, and elected heath and safety representatives.
• The committee is responsible for the implementation, monitoring, review and planning of health and safety policies, systems and practices.
• The Rehabilitation Programme shall provide whenever possible, the means for staff members’ with either a work or non-work related injury or illness, to remain in or return to the workforce, as soon as is practicable, to promote their rehabilitation.

Definition:

Rehabilitation is defined as: “a continuous process, starting from the outset of injury or illness (mental or physical) which will:

• Prevent undue loss of physical or mental function
• Assist recovery and resumption of the individual’s normal lifestyle”

Objective:

The objective of the Tradestaff Rehabilitation Policy is to provide a structured workplace programme where practicable, to promote and support staff rehabilitation in partnership with health professional, case managers and Tradestaff clients.

The following core concepts are central to achieving the objective:

• Early reporting of injury or illness or the inability to perform usual work duties.
• Early intervention in cases of injury or illness or the inability to perform usual work duties.
• Effective liaison between the employer, employee, health professionals, case managers and Tradestaff clients.
• Short term provision (where appropriate) of modified or alternate duties and reduced hours.
• Ongoing documented planning, review and assessment (where practicable) of individual programmes.
• Tradestaff (where practicable) will establish early and ongoing contact with the absent casual employee to ensure the employee maintains a link with Tradestaff.
• The casual employee will also maintain contact with Tradestaff on a regular basis to advise of any changes in their injured status.