Published: 29 May 2020 | Category: Technical advice note | Audiences: Road traffic engineers & consultants, Roading contractors
This note advises of changes to the health and safety and site access requirements that clarify the standards for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and access requirements and helps establish a better framework of clear expectations for our contractors. The changes outlined in this note shall be implemented from the date of publication.
This note advises of changes to the health and safety and site access requirements that clarify the standards for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and access requirements and helps establish a better framework of clear expectations for our contractors. The changes outlined in this note shall be implemented from the date of publication.
Waka Kotahi has a duty of care to ensure the health and safety of all its contractors so far as is reasonably practicable. Having a robust contractor management framework, of which PPE is a part, assists Waka Kotahi the NZ Transport Agency in addressing its duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act (HASWA).
On 28 June 2019 Waka Kotahi issued TAN #19-10 outlining the new Contractor Health and Safety Expectations document.
The current wording of Section 6.5 of the Contractor Expectations document (PPE) has created ambiguity. Interpretation of this section has led to wide variability across industry, undermining currently accepted good PPE practice and taking the focus away from identifying stronger controls. This section has now been reviewed in consultation with industry and the following change has been agreed.
ConstructSafe was removed as a mandatory requirement last year by Waka Kotahi. However the Construction Health and Safety New Zealand Trust (CHASNZ), a construction sector peak body for health and safety, has set up broad expectations for site access. These expectations have again made it a mandatory requirement to have ConstructSafe to access construction sites.
The Construction Sector itself has made this decision. Waka Kotahi will continue to support the Construction Sector and will endorse this and other CHASNZ standards changes in updates to our Contractor Expectations document.
As required by the HASWA, Waka Kotahi requires all persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) on its behalf to either follow our PPE Minimum Standard or to gain approval to trial a risk based approach.
To trial the use of an alternative risk based approach to PPE within a project, alliance or maintenance contract, agreement and approval from the following is required:
Section 6.5 of the Contractor Expectations document details the process required to commence a trial of risk-based PPE and to gain approval for this becoming business as usual for the project or contract.
As a major influencer in the construction industry, Waka Kotahi has an obligation to lead the way in keeping workers safe. We encourage and will support our Contractor partners to achieve higher levels of risk control and will work collaboratively with industry to set new benchmarks of best practice.
NZTA Contractor Health and Safety Expectations document
NZTA E5:2020 Specification Minimum Standard for Personal Protective Equipment
If you have any questions or feedback, please contact Team Lead Critical Risk & Tactical Partnering, Safety, Health and Environment at notifyhs@nzta.govt.nz
David Darwin
Chair, Ratification Group
Vanessa Browne
Delegated Approver
