Improving Workplace Safety for Schools

ACC and NZSTA have a real interest in reducing and preventing accidents. Also under the new Health and Safety in Employment Act legislation there is a greater obligation on employers to focus on workplace hazard identification and management. To assist you in reducing accidents in your school and improve your school’s health and safety management, we are pleased to provide you with ACC and NZSTA joint work.

The guides are the result of a joint project between the ACC and the NZSTA, and the material willeventually form part of the resources contained in the school trustees handbook. They are made up of a series of four booklets to assist a school to set up its own practical health and safety management system. The introductory booklet “Improving Workplace Safety and Health” describes the basic Worksafe Cycle and is an ideal place to start. From there it is a straightforward step into “How to Manage Hazards”, “Training and Supervision”, and “Emergencies and Incident Investigation”. As well, we are pleased to enclose a copy (just one for each school) of “Safe at Play” ACC’s new guide to making playgrounds safer for children.

ACC is significantly increasing its injury prevention activities. We believe that almost all injuries are preventable. The key to prevention is a positive safety focus in all spheres of our lives. While the enclosed guides are designed to improve health and safety for school staff, the principles of effective hazard management are applicable in all areas of school activity – including students, contractors, and visitors; and educational activities outside the classroom, which may involve volunteers who also need to follow the school’s risk management plans. 

ACC also views the reinforcement of safety values as an important learning achievement for young New Zealanders. Therefore they will, over the next year, provide you with useful and effective material to facilitate learning activity in relation to enhancing positive safety values and behaviours for students. Also, ACC and NZSTA will be progressing further initiatives to assist boards in meeting their responsibilities.

While the enclosed material has been designed for easy use, if you would like further assistance in developing health and safety programmes you can contact an ACC Injury Prevention Consultant by phoning 0800 THINKSAFE (0800 844 657) or the NZ School Trustees Association Advisory Service on 0800 STAhelp (0800 782 435).