Slight digression from topic into Covid generally, and only for very mature audiences that watched TV in the 70's M*A*S*H and Covid

Land Transport (Driver Licensing) Rule 1999
26 When passenger endorsement required
(1) A person must hold a passenger endorsement if that person drives—
(a)a motor vehicle that is operated in a passenger service; or
(b) [Revoked]

(2)Despite subclause (1),a passenger endorsement is not required if the transport is provided
in any of the following situations:
(a)when the motor vehicle is an ambulance being used in an ambulance service; or
(b)when an employer is providing transport for the employer’s employees and the driver is an
employee of that employer; or

Each year Safe Work Australia releases data on work injury claims accepted by compensation bodies in each state and territory - and including NZ.

The latest report is available here and makes sobering reading (the Part 1 report) — Peter Bateman

Would be interesting to know what Australia spends on their H&S regulator Peter, anyone got a line on that? A higher level of enforcement might be part of the answer, given that broadly speaking, we're using largely similar legislation.

Another part of the equation, could be Australian Companies and organisations fear of litigation driving greater compliance, I have long held the belief that the ACC Act has a negative effect or at best no effect, encouraging the she'll be right attitude common here.

This could be the uprising we have been waiting for, so if you’re onboard and can help, send me a message and let’s track him down for what I’m sure will be an interesting discussion on H&S. :) — Amy Richards

With maybe two more days of finals racing, good luck with that one Amy. If, ETNZ had capsized during a race, or workup, and had some boat crew damaged or lost, then no doubt Grant's words might have seen him hoist by his own petard. But after seeing the ETNZ response to Inos's trip and stumble, it seems like they have H&S covered off

.

Most H&S professionals have single focus and it is not about arse covering - it is about no one getting killed or injured on their watch. — Janet Mary Houston

Would absolutely agree with you Janet, unfortunately, for a lot of general management, it is totally about butt covering, for the least possible cost, and usually only if there is some legal compulsion (real or perceived)

Another heart stopping day out on the water, two up now and two passes.

https://dilbert.com/strip/2021-03-11

I've yet to see good practice around this. Hire their biggest chainsaw and they talk you through starting it but don't ask what you intend to use it for or ask to see your PPE, or what you know about dropping trees — robert p

With the hire of equipment, the responsibility is to supply equipment that is safe to use, meets any applicable standards/legal requirements, how that equipment is sub-sequentially used, is the hirers
responsibility.

Assuming the vaccine is not mandated by govt, I imagine the worst that can happen is that companies go the way schools have for MMR. Vaccination certs are required for all students, if unvaccinated and there is an outbreak at the school the student has to stay home. — Rachael

What about their wages/salary in that case Rachel, does the employer have to pick up the tab for their choice not to protect themselves?

With the vaccine rollout, we aren't quite at this point, and the need to substitute Dr Ashley for Fauci



Washington Post - Are We There Yet?

I took a hardhat from a construction worker who had spray-painted his white hat a bright fluorescent pink and split it down the middle applying the pressure test. It was barely 6 months old. He was gobsmacked, I smiled. — Rowly Brown

:up:

Well done Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team, game on, one all

My money would be on Grant figuring out smart ways to ensure his team follows the first rule of yacht racing, get in front, second rule; stay in front. Rule three? see rules one and two — Steve H

Good to see Team NZ following the rules :up:

For helmets that are used infrequently and stored away from sunlight, dirt and temperature extremes, this guideline/recommendation may not be applicable. The user should examine the helmet regularly and discard it if any damage is evident. — Robb

That's good to know Robb, thanks too

Police check of driver(s), passenger service endorsement and camera monitoring, COF for people mover, reading through Land Transport Rules, provisions for exemptions don't seem to cover this situation which occurs a lot, with many employers picking up staff and running them out to a building site each morning and back at the end of day in a van/people mover.

Exempt Services

Strictly speaking, they aren't supposed to have stickers or paint applied to them, as any solvents used in glues or paint systems could have a negative effect on their impact performance. For hats used outdoors, UV will over time greatly reduce impact performance,as may heat exposure. For compliance with AS/NZS 1800, replacement of the harness every two years (or sooner if deterioration is noted during regular inspections) and hat every three years is required.

Also, most historical lease agreements are silent on H&S, or only have a minimal line to acknowledge the leasee must comply with statues etc. Is this still relevant, or do more modern lease agreements include more rigour around H&S obligations? — Hilary Kearns

With WorkSafe lining up the owners of Whakaari/White Island, along with tour operators, GNS etc etc, this is a developing topic, for which Matt's citing of Heng Tong Investment Limited provides precedence/guidance, so the answer has to be landlords need to take more interest in their buildings and tenants.

You have asbestos management plans for tenanted properties I guess?

Hi Hilary
Some obligations for building owners and tenants are spelled out in these regulations.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fire Safety, Evacuation Procedures, and Evacuation Schemes) Regulations 2018

So things like means of escape, evacuation plans, fire fighting equipment, the requirement that building owners and occupiers must take reasonable precautions with respect to fire prevention caused by wiring or appliances connected to that wiring. This could be annual Thermographic Inspection of switchboards, control cabinets (your insurance company might already require this) test & tag of appliances at suitable intervals according to their use and risk profile, the fitting of Arc Fault Detection Devices

Just want to put it out there how many individual prequals are you expected to de each year?? — Don Ramsay

Thanking God that I sold my business at the end of 2019, with the new owners taking over last Feb, I don't have to put up with that rort any longer. But I had much the same demands on my time and money Don when I did. I adopted the following SOP. If the company requesting I jump through hoops wasn't worth the effort required, I thanked them for the opportunity to participate, but politely declined. Fortunately, a few decided to hitch their wagon to SiteWise,,so that was cost effective, just required a bit of gaming as John noted at the top of the thread. I didn't use any SiteSafe material to go green, you get three attempts, so it was really just a matter of taking the feedback and using it, though I did get some conflicting assessments form the first to the second.

Some countries are introducing a rule that if you cannot prove you have been vaccinated you will not be allowed to enter. This may force some companies hands, where their people are required to travel internationally when this is available - long way off yet. — Dianne Campton

Perhaps Covid may advantage older kiwis wanting to work on past 65

Has anyone read a copy of this yet?
Is it worth shipping a copy from the UK? — Michael Wilson

Supposed to be a limited print run Michael (3000 copies) 60 Quid including Rest of World postage, only need one idea out of it to cover $120, but at a page an idea, there can't be too much flesh for each tip.

On several occasions, our techs found themselves finishing work at 3am but having to vacate the motel room at 10am. They ended up sleeping in the vehicle and expected to turn up for work in a fit state at 5pm. Management were aware of the situation but would do nothing due to project deadlines and penalty clauses. The offered use of an employee's caravan was declined because it wasn't "approved accomodation". — Christina Carroll

Crikey, some head games going on there, a caravan wasn't suitable because it wasn't "approved accommodation" and sleeping rough in a service vehicle somehow trumps it. If it looks like male bovine excreta and it smells like male bovine excreta, someone should have called it as such.

Competency records are a bit different - it is very justifiable to say I need proof that your electrician is qualified before I let them fix my system — Craig Marriott

Supplying proof of Qualification/Current Practicing License in the case of electrical workers is a legal requirement, and we are all listed on a publicly searchable database (same for Plumber/Gas Fitter/Drain Layers) so probably not the best example