Site Safe NZ Health and Safety at Work Act 6 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is worker participation in the context of the HSWA 2015?
- An ongoing process where workers have reasonable opportunities to participate in improving health and safety (Correct answer)
- Workers attending a single annual safety meeting
- Workers voting on company profits
- Workers choosing their own work schedules
Correct answer: An ongoing process where workers have reasonable opportunities to participate in improving health and safety
Worker participation is an ongoing and evolving process where workers are given reasonable opportunities to participate in improving health and safety on an ongoing basis.
Question 2: Under the HSWA 2015, what must a PCBU ensure regarding the use, handling, and storage of plant and substances?
- They are without risks to health and safety so far as is reasonably practicable (Correct answer)
- They are stored in the cheapest available location
- They meet minimum industry standards only
- They are inspected by WorkSafe annually
Correct answer: They are without risks to health and safety so far as is reasonably practicable
A PCBU must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the use, handling and storage of plant, substances, and structures at the workplace is without risks to health and safety.
Question 3: What is the relationship between the HSWA 2015 and regulations made under it?
- Regulations provide specific detail on how duties under the Act are to be met in particular situations (Correct answer)
- Regulations replace the Act entirely
- The Act takes precedence and regulations are optional guidelines
- Regulations only apply to government workplaces
Correct answer: Regulations provide specific detail on how duties under the Act are to be met in particular situations
Regulations made under the HSWA 2015 provide specific and detailed requirements for particular hazards, industries, or activities. They sit underneath the Act and give practical effect to its general duties.
Question 4: What is a 'volunteer' under the HSWA 2015?
- A person who works for a PCBU with no expectation of reward and is not a volunteer association member doing community work (Correct answer)
- Anyone who works without a signed contract
- A person on a trial period
- A casual worker paid in cash
Correct answer: A person who works for a PCBU with no expectation of reward and is not a volunteer association member doing community work
A volunteer is defined as a person who is acting on a voluntary basis, is not motivated by expectation of reward, and is not a volunteer in a volunteer association doing community work.
Question 5: Under the HSWA 2015, what must a PCBU do about monitoring workers' health?
- Provide health monitoring if required by regulations or if there is a significant risk from workplace exposure (Correct answer)
- Monitor health only if workers request it
- Conduct health checks only after an accident
- Health monitoring is optional for all PCBUs
Correct answer: Provide health monitoring if required by regulations or if there is a significant risk from workplace exposure
A PCBU must ensure health monitoring is provided if required by regulations, or if workers are at risk from exposure to hazards at the workplace and monitoring helps determine whether they are being affected.
Question 6: What happens to the scene of a notifiable event under the HSWA 2015?
- The PCBU must not disturb the scene unless required for safety, helping an injured person, or authorised by an inspector (Correct answer)
- The scene must be cleaned up immediately
- Only police can access the scene
- The scene can be disturbed after 24 hours
Correct answer: The PCBU must not disturb the scene unless required for safety, helping an injured person, or authorised by an inspector
After a notifiable event, the PCBU must ensure the scene is not disturbed until authorised by an inspector, except to assist an injured person, remove a deceased person, or make the site safe.
Site Safe NZ Health and Safety at Work Act 6
What is worker participation in the context of the HSWA 2015?