Working as a tradie comes with a range of health and safety risks. Fortunately, there are measures you can take to help mitigate them. New Zealand's Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 sets out the legal responsibilities for those working at trade sites, and as a trade business owner, part of your role is to reduce these risks to keep yourself and your staff safe.

BizCover, an n3 Supplier, has put together a comprehensive overview of each requirement under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, along with tips on how to strengthen your approach.

Beyond protecting your team, reducing health and safety risks brings other benefits too, including:

• Attracting and keeping talented employees.

• Increasing your chances of winning larger and more lucrative jobs.

• Increasing your productivity.

• Developing a reputation as a highly professional operator.

• Peace of mind from knowing that you and your staff will make it home in one piece at the end of each working day.

Under the Act, legal requirements for trade businesses are as follows:

• Trade business owners must ensure their employees are safe at work, including keeping staff safe from hazards such as secondhand smoke and loud noises.

• Trade workers need to be equipped to handle hazardous materials and heavy machinery safely.

• While on-site, staff must at all times have access to toilets and other essential facilities.

• Your trade business must provide employees with the required training, information, instruction, and supervision, including how to use tools and equipment required on the job site.

• Workers' health should be regularly monitored to ensure health control measures are in place, including exposure to dangerous chemicals and substances, as well as dust and smoke.

To reduce the risk of a health and safety incident affecting your staff and your business, consider implementing the three safety measures outlined below. Alongside trade-specific business insurance, these steps can help your business meet its legal obligations while also showing how the right insurance can actively reduce risk exposure.

With BizCover's trade-specific business insurance and exclusive n3 pricing, you get an effective, proactive way to protect your business and your employees. Health and safety hazards are part of the job for tradies, but with BizCover, you can trust that you're covered.

1. Adopt a safety-first approach to every day on the job

Here are some safety-focused steps to consider introducing for your team at the start of every day on building sites, or any other sites that may pose safety risks. Going through these steps each morning can help ingrain a safety-first culture across your work on building sites.

Before starting work on a new building site, make sure that you and your staff:

• Complete a safety and health induction;

• Protect yourself with the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE);

• Follow all safety and health procedures while working; and

• Notify the site supervisor or the health and safety representative of any incidents or near misses.

2. Designing a health and safety plan for your trade business

When carefully considered and rigorously implemented, a health and safety plan can provide an important roadmap for reducing on-site risks to your trade business in New Zealand.

Start by identifying the hazards and potential risks on the job site. You and your staff may be exposed to various risks depending on the specifics of the job and the immediate environment. Gather your team, collectively identify all potential hazards on the job site, then create a plan to manage the risks present.

The point here is to identify all of the potential hazards and risks, because if you miss some, they have a nasty habit of catching you out when you least expect it.

Four common types of risks on building sites

While specific risks can vary from one building site to another, some of the more common risks tradies typically encounter include physical, social, environmental and chemical hazards.

Physical hazards
Potential physical hazards include lifting heavy objects (including tools and building materials), climbing on scaffolding, and falling objects.

Social hazards
Social hazards can include being overworked, constantly stressed at work, bullying, lack of rest, and working on your feet for extended periods without a break.

Environmental hazards
Environmental hazards include exposure to extreme temperatures, poor lighting, uneven surfaces, prolonged sunlight, inclement weather, working in highly polluted places, and secondhand smoke.

Dangerous substances and chemicals
Some trades require the use of harsh chemicals and other dangerous substances, which may have the potential to cause infertility and illness, either temporarily or permanently.

3. Reduce your risk with trade insurance

Mitigating serious health and safety events, whether foreseen or unforeseen, comes down to preparation. For trade business owners, that means creating a genuinely safe work environment from the outset: clear policies put into practice, the right protective gear and ongoing risk assessment that catches problems before they escalate. Trade insurance is another excellent way to protect yourself and prepare for these risks.

Whether you run a one-man trade band or have a group of tradespeople working for you to get the job done daily, BizCover can tailor your insurance to match the specific risks and needs of your trade business, no matter how big or small your operation is.

Plus, n3 Members have access to preferential pricing with BizCover. A typical n3 Member saves 10%**, making it even easier to protect your business and your people. Visit this page to see cover options for trade businesses and get a quote in five minutes. If you’d like chat more about options for your business, you can contact BizCover at 0800 249 268.

*This information is general only and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. It should not be relied upon as advice. As with any insurance, cover will be subject to the terms, conditions and exclusions contained in the policy wording. © 2022 BizCover Pty Limited. BizCover Limited is owned by BizCover Pty Ltd (ABN 68 127 707 975).

**The savings presented are indicative only, and based on typical n3 member savings and/or supplier tender responses from a combination of list price, trade price or RRP depending on category. Savings are meant as a guide only. Savings will vary depending on the basket of goods purchased.