Search Results for: health and safety

Health and Safety

Health and safety legislation is administered and enforced by WorkSafe New Zealand. The primary legislation governing health and safety in the workplace is the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, which went into force on 4 April 2016. Health and safety legislation is administered and enforced by WorkSafe New Zealand. The primary legislation governing… Read more »

Health & Safety

The following templates and resources have been developed with community groups in mind. Some are resources, some a templates that you can download and adapt for your own purposes.

Warrant of Fitness and Compliance Schedule

Buildings that contain certain safety and essential systems, known as specified systems, need a compliance schedule and an annual warrant of fitness. Some examples include things like lifts, automatic doors, or emergency power or emergency lighting systems. Specified systems help ensure a building is safe and healthy for people to enter, occupy or work in.… Read more »

Creating a Health & Safety Policy

If you are a PCBU (person conducting a business or undertaking) you must ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers is protected. You must also ensure that other persons are not put at risk by your work. This is called the ‘primary duty of care’. To help your organisation… Read more »

Staff and Volunteers

There are different laws that cover different kinds of workers. This section briefly summarises the differences between volunteers, employees and independent contractors and explains your organisation’s obligations and potential liability in relation to these different kinds of workers. Volunteers Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, s 16 (definition of “volunteer”), s 19(3) (“volunteer worker”);… Read more »

Care of Children

Community venues often run different kinds of activities involving children, or hire their premises out to groups that run programmes for children. In these instances, the community venue becomes an umbrella organisation to the different groups that operate out of the centre. Early childhood centre programmes For early childhood centres, the Wellington City Council lease… Read more »

Liquor licensing

If you want to sell or supply alcohol at your community venue or if tickets are being sold to a function at the community venue where liquor is going to be consumed, a license will be required. The law which controls the sale, supply and consumption of alcohol is governed by the Sale and Supply… Read more »

Termination of employment

There are several methods for terminating an employment agreement. Aside from being dismissed by an employer, an employee can choose to terminate their employment agreement by resigning, or a position may be made redundant. Resignation A resignation occurs when an employee voluntarily terminates their employment agreement. The reasons for resignation can be varied. An employer… Read more »

Employees

Paid workers An employee is a person employed by an employer to do work for hire or reward under a contract of service, often called an employment agreement. There are two types of employment agreements: Individual Employment Agreements and Collective Agreements. Permanent employees A permanent employee is an employee whose employment does not have an… Read more »

Legal responsibilities when hosting

Community organisations have a duty of care to guests and visitors whenever hosting groups in their centre or venue. A breach of duty of care may occur through a deliberate action or omission or through staff negligence. Community venues must make sure that sound policies are in place and enacted, and that there is sufficient… Read more »

When injuries happen: About ACC

The ACC scheme is run by the Accident Compensation Corporation. It provides a no-fault insurance policy for everyone who is in New Zealand. This includes visitors from outside New Zealand. This replaces the right to sue for compensation when a personal injury occurs in New Zealand. Those wishing to make a claim with ACC to… Read more »

Volunteers

Who is a volunteer? Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, s 16 (definition of “volunteer”); Human Rights Act 1993, s 2 (“employer”) The word “volunteer” isn’t defined in most legislation, but it’s generally used to mean a person who chooses to work for the good of the community or some public benefit, and who isn’t… Read more »

Effect of registration

Under what name will the organisation be registered? Charities Act 2005, s 15 If your organisation is already registered as an incorporated society, a company or a charitable trust board, the name under which it was registered will also be used for the Charities Register. If your organisation isn’t incorporated, the name to be recorded… Read more »

Keeping records

It is important for community organisations to maintain certain records, either electronically and in hard-copy files. These records should be accurate and regularly maintained. If you are considering becoming a paperless office make sure you have an electronic filing system that is backed up and are still retaining all the required documents. Keeping accurate and… Read more »

Food hygiene

Food hygiene is regulated by the Food Act 2014 and the Food Regulations 2015 (the parts of the Health Act 1956 that deal with outbreaks of disease are also relevant). The Local Government Act 2002 allows City Councils to manage food hygiene and safety through bylaws so if you have specific questions you should direct… Read more »