Every health and safety induction in New Zealand comes back to the same Act. This free quiz checks the core of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 in fourteen questions, from the PCBU's primary duty to notifiable events and health and safety representatives.
Who has duties under the Act
The Act puts the main duty on the person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU): to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of its workers and of other people affected by the work (section 36). «Reasonably practicable» weighs the likelihood of the risk, the harm it could do, what is known about it and how to control it, and only then the cost, which can rule a measure out only if it is grossly disproportionate (section 22). Risks must be eliminated where reasonably practicable, and otherwise minimised (section 30).
Officers, such as directors, must exercise due diligence, which includes keeping up to date and verifying that resources and processes are in place (section 44). Workers and other people at a workplace must take reasonable care and follow reasonable instructions (sections 45 and 46). Duties cannot be transferred, and when several PCBUs share a duty, they must consult, co-operate and co-ordinate.
Notifiable events and worker participation
A death, a notifiable injury or illness and a notifiable incident are notifiable events. The PCBU must tell WorkSafe as soon as possible by the fastest means, keep the site undisturbed until an inspector allows, and keep a record for at least five years (sections 55 to 57).
Any worker can ask for a health and safety representative to be elected, and the PCBU must then start the election. A trained representative can direct unsafe work to stop, and every worker may stop work that would expose them to a serious risk from an immediate or imminent hazard. A PCBU must not charge workers for anything provided for health and safety. Penalties for reckless conduct reach five years in prison for individuals and $3 million for companies.
Using the quiz
It works as the closing check of an induction, as a refresher at a health and safety committee, or as a warm-up for HSR training. These are practice questions written by Quizhat from the legislation; Quizhat is not affiliated with WorkSafe New Zealand or any training provider.