Health & Safety - Choosing a Professional

Resources
Written By Kim Manunui

Since the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 came into place, specialised advisors and consultants have been popping up all over New Zealand. But how do you know who’s genuine? It’s all about doing your groundwork.

What to Look for When Seeking Help

Not sure how to choose the right health and safety professional for your business? The Health and Safety Association of New Zealand (HASANZ) has developed a national online register of workplace health and safety professionals designed to assist companies and organisations with finding the right professional for them.

Established in 2014, this national umbrella organisation representing all workplace health and safety professions believes it is critical for businesses to have confidence in the competence of health and safety professionals.

Member organisations include:

  • Australian/New Zealand Society of Occupational Medicine (ANZSOM)

  • Human Factors and Ergonomics Society of New Zealand (HFESNZ)

  • Maintenance Engineers Society of New Zealand (MESNZ)

  • NZ Institute of Hazardous Substances Management (NZIHSM)

  • New Zealand Institute of Safety Management (NZISM)

  • NZ Occupational Health Nurses Association (NZOHNA)

  • NZ Occupational Hygiene Society (NZOHS)

  • New Zealand Safety Council (NZSC)

  • Occupational Therapy New Zealand (OTNZ)

  • Physiotherapy New Zealand (Occupational Health Group)

Key Questions to Ask

When looking to employ a health and safety consultant, we recommend asking these five questions:

  1. Which professional association do you belong to – can you confirm this?

  2. What qualifications and/or certification do you have?

  3. What relevant skills and experience do you have for this job?

  4. Can you give me examples of similar work you have done recently?

  5. Are you happy for us to contact your clients about your work for them?

It's worthwhile checking the HASANZ register and also the professional grade awarded to them by one of the member organisations above.

Misconceptions About Consultants

One of the most common misconceptions is that it costs an arm and a leg. It’s true the higher the risk in your business, the more you need, and the more regularly you need to be covering it—hence higher costs. However, it’s completely possible to cover the basics and do it well in most businesses, without it costing the earth. Talk to your consultant about what would work for your business and how to incorporate that in your normal activities.

How to Start the Process

Many consultants offer a free, initial meeting to answer questions. Experts in HR and Health & Safety can advise on both and how they interact with each other. For example: does your job description include expectations around Health & Safety? Many don’t.

Saving Money and Time on Health and Safety

The more planning you do, the better. Have copies of your job description, employment agreements, and any health and safety processes you already have in place. Secondly, get some training. A one-day course to gain an understanding of what the law requires will provide valuable information.

If you need some advice around your Health & Safety procedures, get in touch with us.

Kim Manunui

Hi, I’m Kim and I work with a great team to help individuals, as well as small and not so small businesses get their message, product and services to the world using digital media and creating wonderful websites that don’t cost the earth.

I was born in Canada, and grew up around Vancouver and the mountains of British Columbia. My love of pristine environments led me to New Zealand and eventually to the mountains, lakes and rivers of the central North Island which is home. My family’s heritage is here, and it’s from here that Korio traverses the planet.

The digital world is never static and neither are we.

And I say ‘we’ because I work with an awesome group of talented people who I gather together as required to complete a project.  Whatever your business, not-for-profit or individual needs are we gather the best team to get the job done.

Collaboratively we are creative, share sustainable values and work hard for great outcomes because that’s the buzz of satisfaction that drives us.

If you have an audience and market to reach, we can make that happen. Creative design, words that work and smart behind the scenes stuff that cuts through the online noise. We’ll design your website and then build it. We’ll manage the content as well as all your hosting needs. We can handle your online advertising so you get noticed,
and we’ll manage your social media presence so you get the clicks, likes and engagement to grow your business. All within the budget you set, because none of this needs to cost the earth.  And the job doesn’t stop when your website goes live. We are your virtual business partner.

https://www.korio.co.nz
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