New Zealand Work Site Specific Safety Plan (SSSP). A Case Study

Table of contents

1. What is a Site-Specific Safety Plan (SSSP)?

2. Purpose and scope

3. Responsibilities and resources

4. Training

5. Induction

6. Communication and consultation

7. Hazard & risk Identification and control

8. Records register

9. Inspections and audits

10. Incident management

11. Suppliers

12. Personal protective equipment

13. Environmental management

References

1. What is a Site-Specific Safety Plan (SSSP)?

An SSSP is developed by subcontractors and main contractors to ensure that all relevant site information is available and regularly updated and that health and safety are continuously monitored.

Therefore it is a highly effective communication tool which forms a critical part of the agreement between parties by outlining how health and safety will be managed on a site (Site Safe, n.d.).

When used correctly, it ensures the relevant site information is regularly updated and safety is monitored and help all the PCBU to comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA) 2015.

2. Purpose and scope

The guidelines in this document provide a minimum framework for the development of an SSSP which does not supersede or replace regulatory requirements (i.e., HSWA 2015), nor is it intended to be all-inclusive of the applicable regulatory requirements.

Instead, it is intended to be supportive and complementary to such requirements.

In fact, the SSSP is a living tool that documents how the management of XY Construction plans to control exposure to risk at the YZ site by taking a systemic approach and mitigate hazards specific to the site, acknowledge them, formulate a response plan to be implemented and monitored for compliance and changing conditions (e.g., COVID 19 levels restriction).

Through the SSSP process, the potential hazards associated with the scope of the contracted work are identified and safe work practices are defined to eliminate or control exposure to those hazards. It establishes the process to ensure adherence to regulations and stakeholder expectations (The Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA), 2017).

Besides, XY Construction is a proud member of the national not-for-profit organisation Site Wise promoting health and safety culture in the New Zealand construction industry since 1999 and regroup over 5500 members (Site Safe, 2020).

By adhering to Safe Site guidelines and as a small operator, Willie's Construction also embraces the simplification of the SSSP process which offer three colour-coded packs that match the role of the company in a project: the Whero (red), Käkäriki (green), or Kowhai (yellow) packs (Site Safe, 2020).

Indeed, the original SSSP was developed to help large, mainly vertical construction companies manage employees, subcontractors and anyone else involved in a site-specific project and were a one-size-fits-all package:

The revised system, available for free download, is much simpler. Site Safe’s

development manager Mark Leath says there are now three types of SSSPs to suit the differing levels of PCBU (a person conducting a business or undertaking), from main contractors through to subbies and residential builders (Builders & Contractors, 2020, p. 12).

3. Responsibilities and resources

According to the HSWA 2015, YY Construction is acting as a PCBU with a duty of care towards its employees and sub-contractors (New Zealand Government, 2015, p. 23).

Furthermore, Site Safe (2020) uses the terms PCBU 1 (i.e., main contractor) and PCBU 2 (i.e., a subcontractor) in different ways to refer to all parties to a project.

Therefore the PCBU status changes from PCBU 2 to PCBU 1, depending on the role and responsibilities on a project (“Figure 1”).

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Figure 1: The PCBUstructure (Site Safe, 2020).

A comprehensive agreement must be formalised between parties working on the specific site, that determines how health and safety are managed before any work starts. All questions must be answered.

Both PCBUs must read the agreement to ensure it forms an accurate plan for the scope of work to be undertaken and sign it to be valid.

Then a representative of the main contractor (PCBU 1) must sign the approval when all of the documents are correctly completed ("Figure 2").

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Figure 2: Project Plan Agreement SSSP Form 1 (Site Safe)

4. Training

XY Construction should keep a training and qualification register recording all employees training, qualifications and experience while working on the site from low-rise to high- risk work (“figure 3”). This includes evidence of training, qualifications (eg., NZQA) and experience which should be stored at the warehouse and be made available on request.

As a living document (Site Safe, 2020), it must be fully completed before any work starts on-site, and updated as necessary during the period of works as employees or circumstances change.

If using any potentially hazardous products, substances or materials on site, the PCBU must provide details of the training or instruction for using such substances or materials on-site (e.g., asbestos).

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Figure 3: Training and qualification register (Site Safe)

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