Comments

  • Do small fire extinguishers carried in work vehicles require an annual check
    This is exactly what your extinguisher servicing people are doing, so they are telling the truth when they say that they need the same checks done.Aaron Marshall



    • They should be checking when the extinguisher is due for a pressure test (Five years
      after it was manufactured).
    • They will confirm the instruction for use label is present and can be easily read
    • They will check the pressure gauge is in the green zone (over/under is a fail)
    • They should be weighing it to confirm it is still at it's initial fill weight,
    • They should be removing any flexible wand and confirming it's not blocked (wasps use outdoor
      ones to try and start a nest off in), and any internal rattle
    • They are examining the outside for any signs of corrosion/damage(they are pressure vessels)
    • A gentle tap with a rubber mallet will free up any compaction (you should feel the powder
      sloshing around in side it- the center of its gravity will change too if it's not compacted.
    • They will confirm that locking ring is fitted, and indicator tag is in place.
    • Once they have done that, they will clip the test date tag on the extinguisher with the month
      and year of this check.
    • A good operator will give you a list of all the extinguishers they checked, what their weights
      were, and when their next pressure tests are due

    No reason why you can't do this, but you must do all of this
  • Do small fire extinguishers carried in work vehicles require an annual check
    and there are no set standards for the inspection of fire extinguishers for cars. (Light vehicles).Chrissy Hansen

    /
    NZS 4503:2005 for hand operated Fire EquipmentChrissy Hansen

    Annually unless in an arduous location as per NZS4503:2005, the fact that the portable fire fighting equipment is mounted in a vehicle is neither here nor there. What's not required, is putting a fire extinguisher in the vehicle in the first place.

    A 1Kg Fire Extinguisher has no place anywhere, if you are going to supply a Fire Extinguisher, put a decent one in that has 1/2 a chance of putting a fire out 2.5Kg minimum, with a flexible wand to direct the contents of it at the appropriate part of the fire according to what is actually burning.

    Under NZS4503, you are supposed to supply training also (and as per Heath & Safety At Work Act)
  • No jab, no job?
    https://www.newsroom.co.nz/my-body-my-choice-not-in-this-case

    https://www.newsroom.co.nz/vaccinations-and-the-workplace

    In finding that the dismissal was justified, the authority rejected the applicant’s argument that their stance on vaccination “does not impact any other person in the workplace”.

    The authority held that this was unsustainable given that every employee has an obligation under the Health and Safety at Work Act to take “reasonable care that his or her acts, or omissions do not adversely affect the health and safety of others”.
    Susan Hornsby-Geluk
  • Do small fire extinguishers carried in work vehicles require an annual check
    Yes, they should be getting checked, after five years, they are due for a pressure test (for small ones, this is usually uneconomic and they are replaced). If they are mounted outside of the vehicles cab, six monthly would be more appropriate
  • What is PPE?
    The last line of defenceAndrew

    The only option for an Adventure Tourism business :grin:
  • Covid vaccination - can it be required on H&S grounds?
    For a sealed up room, that can't be readily ventilated, it may be worth investigating portable filtration units with HEPA filters. Just been reading COVID-19 Outbreak and Hospital Air Quality: A Systematic Review of Evidence on Air Filtration and Re-circulation , bit of light bedtime reading :smile:
  • Covid vaccination - can it be required on H&S grounds?
    Replace virus / COVID-19 with a different Biological Hazardous SubstanceStuart Oakey

    Thing is Stuart, it is a virus and as such from a H&S perspective what controls and monitoring Are you thinking of?

    It will be interesting to see how Ireland fares, given a similar population size, and number of ICU beds. Ireland's Department Of Enterprise, Trade And Employment has developed a Work Safely Protocol worth down loading and having a read. Sections of particular interest could be D. Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Pg 43.

    If as a part of your risk assessment, you are going to use CO2 monitors to identify poorly ventilated areas, there is some HSE advice here,

    Control of ventilation does seem to be a key aspect of preventing the spread of Covid19's latest variant, along with cleaning, the Irish protocol has this to say on that:

    D10. Cleaning
    Employers must:
    • implement thorough and regular cleaning of frequently touched surfaces. If disinfection of an
    area is required, it must be performed in addition to cleaning, never as a substitute for
    cleaning,

    • ensure contact/touch surfaces such as table tops, work equipment, door handles and
    handrails are visibly clean at all times and are cleaned at least twice daily,

    • implement modified cleaning intervals for rooms and work areas. This applies especially for
    washroom facilities, lockers and communal spaces. Cleaning should be performed at least
    twice per day and whenever facilities are visibly dirty,

    • provide workers with essential cleaning materials to keep their own workspace clean
    (for example wipes/disinfection products, paper towels and waste bins/bags),

    • provide workers with hand sanitisers and cleaning equipment for their work vehicle,
    with cleaning taking place before and after each shift,

    • increase number of waste collection points and ensure these are emptied regularly
    throughout and at the end of each day, and

    • modify use of hot desks to ensure that these are made available to identified staff
    and have appropriate cleaning materials in place for workers to clean the area before
    and after using

    Note: In relation to routine disposal of waste in the workplace, waste such as used tissues,
    wipes and cleaning material should be disposed of in the regular domestic waste stream.
    Hands should be cleaned immediately after disposal of these items.
    In relation to disposal of waste from a worker who becomes symptomatic while at work,
    this waste should be disposed of in a disposable refuse bag.
    When the waste bag is three quarters full, it should be tied securely and placed into a second refuse bag and tied again. The bag should then be left in a safe location for three days (72 hours) before putting out for collection.
    For further advice, please contact your relevant Local Authority
    Department Of Enterprise, Trade And Employment (Ireland)
  • Health And Safety At Work Reform
    we need regulations that work.MattD2

    Coupled to a Regulator that works, which requires the oversight that Rowly has identified is missing from the current model. .
  • Covid vaccination - can it be required on H&S grounds?
    Trade Unions, Business Counsel, Fair Work Commission and Safe Work Australia answered NO it cannot be mandated in almost every work place in Australianrobyn moses

    We're not in the Western Islands Robyn, see the NZ High Court Judgement that is applicable here for boarder workers and others covered by our Covid Public Health Order.

    when there is another alternative to assist employers to meet their H&S obligations and that is by means of testing (PCR)robyn moses



    As Matt has pointed out, in a general workplace an employer can't insist on PCR testing as that would run foul of the Bill Of Rights legislation. It will be interesting to see what solutions come out of the woodwork.
  • Frivolous Friday Mk2 AKA The Dead Horse?
    Warning Boomer Joke Alert: Younger Viewers Will Not Get This
    (may also contain traces of dad jokes)

    vd4t8vadhurpayrf.jpg
  • Covid vaccination - can it be required on H&S grounds?
    however if the customer requires it then we will need to pass on that requirement"Jarron Urlic

    Of course, you have to wonder how the customer that insists that contractors (and their staff) visiting the clients site, must be vaccinated, are getting on with doing the same to their staff. Or is it a case of do as I say, not as I do?
  • Health And Safety At Work Reform
    Yeah Garth, they are going to open the draft legislation for comment before chiseling into stone

    The Government will release a draft of the new plant and structures regulations in early 2022.
    People will have the chance to comment on how the changes are best implemented during that
    process. Support and guidance will be provided to businesses to give them time to prepare.
    The final regulations are expected to be in place by late 2022.
    — MBIE
  • Covid vaccination - can it be required on H&S grounds?
    The main problem is that this only relates to specific roles covered under the vaccination order... and therefore the decision by the High Court provides very little to the conversation about requiring vaccinations in general workplacesMattD2

    Absolutely true Matt, but it does clarify that vaccination is mandatory under COVID-19 Public Health Response (Vaccinations) Order 2021 for specific roles, and as other roles get added to that, or subsequent orders, it gives PCBU's subject to those orders confidence to obey them.

    As for the wider body of employment law, it will be a mine field and I don't envy anyone having to negotiate customers demanding to know the vaccination status of anyone a PCBU sends to their site, or staff refusing to work alongside other staff without knowing their vaccination status.
  • Covid vaccination - can it be required on H&S grounds?
    He also said there was no requirement in the New Zealand Bill of Rights or any other piece of legislation that said that secondary legislation could not contain a provision that limiting one or more rights set out in the bill of rights.

    The judge said section 11 of the bill of rights provided that everyone had the right to refuse to undergo any medical treatment.

    The court’s task in this case was to balance the benefit of the vaccine and the risk of being unvaccinated against any discrimination in relation to those affected, he said.

    He dismissed the woman’s application and suppressed her name.
    Justice Peter Churchman

    Looks like sanity prevails Former border worker who lost her job after not getting jabbed loses High Court challenge
  • Hypothetical Vaccine Query
    The Pfizer vaccine has been thoroughly tested by multiple agencies eg FDA, EMA and our own Medsafe and has proved to be both safe and effective.

    For the safety of all members of the team of five million, that message must be conveyed to everyone that is eligible to receive it.

    Any other message is a dangerous distraction from both a health and business perspective
  • Two staff members - A Hypothetical Vaccine Discusion
    I like the incentive The Warehouse is offering it's vaccinated staff

    Warehouse Group to give $100 to Staff Who Get Covid Vaccinations, Free KFC etc etc is all very well, but if $100 will overcome at least some of the hesitancy, so be it.