I must admit I let out a wee gasp when I read about the successful prosecution of a health and safety advisor by WorkSafe in New Zealand. It’s a clear warning to all of us in the health and safety industry. The case summary revealed that the advisor had identified significant concerns with the traffic management system with a Contractor client. Despite assurances that these issues would be addressed, six months passed with no action. This ultimately lead to a worker suffering a serious head injury. This incident was entirely preventable, had the advisor followed through on their responsibilities. As a result, the Contractor (Client) was fined $270,000, along with $50,000 in reparations. The advisor was fined $70k and $28k respectively.
WorkSafe emphasized, “Businesses paying for specialist health and safety advice need to know both they and their consultants have responsibilities under the law. You need the right consultant helping in the right way to get the right outcomes for workers.” The Health and Safety Association (HASANZ) serves as a reliable source for professionals who can provide expert advice.
The challenge in hiring any advisor for your business is that you often don’t know what you don’t know. As this case demonstrates, even though the advisor failed to manage the risk, the business was still held accountable. Frustrating I’m sure!
The Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA) is unequivocal: your business, your responsibility. You depend on the advice of experts, so how can you be sure they are what they claim to be?
Start by hiring an accredited health and safety professional, just as you would a qualified accountant or solicitor. Additionally, ensure they have relevant industry experience. While many tourism operations are low-risk, they are not without risk. With the complexities of the HSWA, GRWM, Transport ACT, Maritime Act, HSNO, FENZ, ……….., it’s crucial to work with advisors who understand the specific needs of the sector. This is especially relevant for activity operators who may subject to the adventure activity regulations.
Check the level of accreditation the practitioner holds. Advisers can be members of associations without actually holding any professional accreditation. This can include NZ Safety Council and affiliate members of NZISM (New Zealand Institute of Safety Management). NZISM has four levels of professional accreditation. Once members achieve professional accreditation, they can apply to become HASANZ registered. NZISM and HASANZ practitioners are bound by a code of conduct, ensuring they maintain professional accreditation and consistently meet industry standards.
Accredited health and safety practitioners may come at a higher cost, but so do good accountants, SEO providers, and media companies. Having spent many years teaching people how to sell travel, I would always emphasize three key selling points: saving money, saving time, and ensuring safety. Somewhere within that triangle, customers find their comfort zone. Actively promoting a robust safety system shows a commitment to visitor safety, and working with accredited health and safety practitioners adds credibility to your system. If you’re making the commitment, be proud and put it front and centre in your business collateral!
In case you were wondering, I’m proud to be HASANZ registered, hold NZISM Professional accreditation, and am certified by IOSH (the Institute for Occupational Safety and Health), a global organization based in the UK.