Site Safe NZ Health and Safety at Work Act 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, who is defined as a PCBU?
- A person conducting a business or undertaking (Correct answer)
- A private contractor of building utilities
- A professional consultant for business unions
- A public company with business units
Correct answer: A person conducting a business or undertaking
PCBU stands for 'Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking' and is the primary duty holder under the HSWA 2015.
Question 2: What is the primary object of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015?
- To provide a balanced framework for securing the health and safety of workers and workplaces (Correct answer)
- To punish employers who breach safety rules
- To replace all previous workplace legislation
- To ensure workers receive compensation for injuries
Correct answer: To provide a balanced framework for securing the health and safety of workers and workplaces
The primary object of the HSWA 2015 is to provide a balanced framework for securing the health and safety of workers and workplaces by protecting them from harm.
Question 3: Under the HSWA 2015, what must a PCBU do 'so far as is reasonably practicable'?
- Ensure the health and safety of workers (Correct answer)
- Provide unlimited safety equipment
- Guarantee no accidents will ever occur
- Hire a dedicated safety officer for every team
Correct answer: Ensure the health and safety of workers
PCBUs must ensure the health and safety of workers so far as is reasonably practicable, considering what is possible, available, and appropriate in the circumstances.
Question 4: Which regulator is primarily responsible for enforcing the HSWA 2015?
- WorkSafe New Zealand (Correct answer)
- ACC
- Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
- Department of Labour
Correct answer: WorkSafe New Zealand
WorkSafe New Zealand is the primary workplace health and safety regulator responsible for enforcing the HSWA 2015.
Question 5: What is an 'officer' under the HSWA 2015 required to exercise?
- Due diligence to ensure the PCBU complies with its duties (Correct answer)
- Complete control over all workplace decisions
- Financial authority over safety budgets only
- Supervision of every worker on site
Correct answer: Due diligence to ensure the PCBU complies with its duties
Officers (such as company directors and chief executives) must exercise due diligence to ensure the PCBU meets its health and safety obligations.
Question 6: Under the HSWA 2015, which of the following is a duty of workers?
- To take reasonable care that their actions do not adversely affect others' health and safety (Correct answer)
- To purchase their own safety equipment
- To conduct risk assessments independently
- To report directly to WorkSafe about all hazards
Correct answer: To take reasonable care that their actions do not adversely affect others' health and safety
Workers must take reasonable care for their own health and safety and ensure their actions or omissions do not adversely affect other people's health and safety.
Site Safe NZ Health and Safety at Work Act 1
Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, who is defined as a PCBU?