Every business needs to involve its people in keeping everyone safe and healthy. The free SafePlus online tool can help.
First you create a short survey to learn what your people think works well and where there’s room for improvement. Then you get a report with advice and guidance links tailored to your business.
The best way to keep people safe and healthy at work is to create a culture where everyone looks out for each other. Health and safety is everyone’s responsibility, not just the business owner and any managers. This is why worker engagement is a key requirement of health and safety laws.
Ask your people about health and safety, and work together on next steps. Try using the free SafePlus online tool to create a health and safety assessment for your business. It’s a simple way to:
SafePlus online tool(external link)
The assessments are:
SafePlus is backed by the government agencies WorkSafe, ACC and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. No one in government can access your information or results.
Start by setting up a profile. This involves a few quick questions so the assessment suits your business, eg location, industry, number of workers.
Next, invite people to take part. These might be your workers, customers or key suppliers. If you work with contractors or freelancers, or share premises with another business, you can invite them to answer too.
Each person will anonymously answer multi-choice questions tailored to their role in your business. The questions will cover three main topics:
You will then get a report with recommendations on what to work on, with links and guidance specific to your situation. You and your people can then plan improvements and take action.
Among the organisations using SafePlus is Wellington Zoo. As well as risks associated with working with animals, the zoo deals with health and safety matters more familiar to businesses of all sizes, including:
“The SafePlus tool appealed to me because it wasn’t really looking at systems and processes. It’s more about health and safety culture and asking our people how we were doing,” says Chris Jerram, Wellington Zoo’s general manager of safety, assets & sustainability. “So we got a good 360 degree review from our people telling us how they see it.”
Applying for the subsidy involves an assessment to identify your health and safety improvement priorities. Using SafePlus is a good first step.
Health and safety is all about two-way communication between leaders and workers.
Business owners must:
Workers must have:
Email WorkSafe’s SafePlus team on info@safeplus.nz.
Check out the how-to videos on the SafePlus website.
How-to videos(external link) — SafePlus