Issue date
There are changes coming for Health and Safety regulations which will affect clubs. The new Health and Safety at Work Act is expected to come into effect in the third quarter this year.
Now is the time to become familiar with the expected changes and ensure your club is up to scratch in the health and safety department.
Some Background
In 2013, government announced its Working Safer reform package, aimed at bringing down New Zealand’s workplace injury and death toll by 25 per cent by 2020. Perhaps the most important part of this is the new Health and Safety Reform Bill, which will make every workplace responsible for the health and safety of all workers (including contractors).
Is your club a PCBU or a Volunteer Organisation?
The Health and Safety Reform Bill introduces PCBUs; a Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking.
It is important to understand if your club falls under the category of a PCBU or a volunteer organisation. This will help you understand your duties under the new Act.
Click here for to help identify which category your club comes under.
However, a simple test is that if your club has people working in paid employment then it is classified as a PCBU.
Volunteer organisations will have their own special categories under the new Act. It is our understanding that the Select Committee are still working through the duties of a volunteer organisation and we will provide further information as it becomes available.
Essential Reading
Sport New Zealand has been monitoring the progress of the new Bill and looking at its potential impact on sports Organisations.
The latest update from Sport New Zealand is available on the YNZ website here
Whether your club is a PCBU or a Volunteer Organisation, you will as a club or an officer of that club, have a duty of care and need to ensure that your health and safety processes and documentation are in order.
Now is a good time to review your processes and documentation including your Risk Assessment and Management System (RAMS), your Safe Operating Procedures (SOP), your training requirements and implementation and that this information is accessible to your members.
Yachting New Zealand have developed resources to help your club, these can be found in Section 6 of the club manual here (http://www.yachtingnz.org.nz/clubs/club-manual). There you can find the following resources:
- Club Risk Management Self Check
- Club Risk Management Guide
- Template Risk Management Plan
- Hazard Analysis System
- Risk Management Planning Process Example
- Manning and Equipment Levels for Club Rescue Boats
- Rescue Boat Safety System
Yachting New Zealand has created a section on our website with helpful information, resources and links to help your club manage your review of your health and safety practices in light of the new Act. This can be found here: http://www.yachtingnz.org.nz/clubs/health-safety-reform
