Wondering how to achieve Sitewise Green or even it’s much more prestigious cousin, Gold?
Start by asking these vital questions:
Do you have a Health and Safety Policy in place and is it being followed?
Have you got a history of good jobsite documentation including toolbox talks, Site Specific Safety Plans and Task Analysis?
Need help with any of the above? CLICK HERE
To gain a SiteWise Green accreditation you need to achieve a score of 75% or more on your annual assessment.
To gain a SiteWise Gold accreditation you need have achieved a score of 90% or more on your annual assessment.
You need to demonstrate your commitment to health and safety and your health and safety policy, toolbox talks, site specific safety plans and task analysis documentation are an important part of this demonstration.
Why is a Health and Safety Policy important when it comes to achieving a successful Sitewise accreditation?
Your company health and safety policy is a very important piece of documentation for a successful Sitewise accreditation because it shows potential clients how you manage the risks involved with your work. It also demonstrates your commitment to meeting health and safety obligations in your workplace.
These are commitments such as;
preventing injury
providing a safe workplace
providing safe equipment
understanding your obligations around the Health and Safety in Employment Act 2015
developing personal responsibility to health and safety for all stakeholders
there is a consistent review system in place for continuous improvement around health and safety
you have identified and documented risks and hazards
It needs to be accessible to your entire team and should be a part of your induction process so everyone understands what is required by you to provide a safe worksite.
Your health and safety policy must be reviewed every 12 months, signed off and date stamped by the Managing Director/Owner of the business so ensure your documentation is up to scratch and up to date.
Without a health and safety policy you will fall at the first hurdle when it comes to Sitewise assessment time.
We can help with this CLICK HERE
With a clear, concise and professional health and safety policy you're framing your workplace to be safer which is the overall key focus.
How do you demonstrate your health and safety policy is being followed?
Documents such as Task Analysis, JSAs or SWMS signed by your team is one way.
SWMS or Safe Work Method Statements are basically effective ways to communicate how a job should be carried out and equipment should be used. In effect, it’s a training tool so you know that your work place are using and operating safely with the tools and the gear they have on site.
How you expect your guys and girls to work on site and how to work safely might sound straight forward, but you know what assuming does. Your procedures documents lays it all out in black and white.
Have you got a history of good jobsite documentation including Pre-start’s, toolbox talks, Site Specific Safety Plans and Task Analysis?
Historical documents are proof that your company is continuously and consistently communicating and providing information around job tasks, risks, hazards and engaging your workforce on all things related to health and safety as part of your operations.
Health and safety shouldn’t sit outside your operations; it should be embedded in how you do things around here i.e. your workplace culture.
Toolbox talks and most importantly, recording of toolbox talks will demonstrate to your Sitewise assessor you have had a meeting with your team - the where, when and what you have discussed around jobs on site, you have provided concise information on risks and hazards - “what to look out for” and you have involved and engaged with your team during the course of any project.
CLICK HERE for a free toolbox pack
Site Specific Safety Plans are the “road map” for each site around health and safety. Site Specific Safety Plans are extremely important and effective communications tools for all workers on site; from the main contractor to subbies. SSSP (Site Specific Safety Plans) records things like hazard registers, risk assessment, toolbox talk minutes, site emergency response plans, incident and injury registers and more.
Your Sitewise assessor will be looking for your site plan and making sure it is specific to each site and not just a template “copy and paste” sign.
CLICK HERE for help with your SSSP
Task analysis is there to review and continuously improve how job tasks should be performed
Any near misses for example are key pieces of information that should be reviewed thoroughly so you don’t make the same mistake twice and vitally; that the near miss doesn’t escalate to a serious harm. Showing that you perform task analysis as part of your regular review system is highly effective and a big tick when it comes to OFI (opportunities for improvement)
When you make sure “bad history never repeats” you’re on the right track towards a successful Sitewise accreditation. When you work with professional health and safety consultant who can provide you with your Sitewise accreditation “road map”, even better.
Nailed It Safety Solutions work with construction businesses all over NZ. We provide them with the help they need with their health and safety management; in fact we’ve helped more than 100 small business achieve SiteWise accreditation to position themselves for more work. If you would like a free consultation about how to get a better score in Sitewise then fill out the form below and one of our team will be in touch within 24 hours.
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