Nelson City Council

Health and Safety Policy

Health and safety is an essential part of our working environment and workplace culture. This is reflected in our shared values of teamwork, integrity and pride in what we do, as well as in our programme of continuous improvement in health and safety.

Nelson City Council is committed to providing and maintaining a safe and healthy working environment for its employees, contractors, volunteers and visitors. Management and employees will work together to achieve this environment by:

• Employees ensuring their own safety and ensuring that their action, or inaction, does not cause harm to others
• Assigning particular health and safety responsibilities to managers, team leaders and employees
• Management providing appropriate personal protective equipment, resources, including training, where required
• Employees using all appropriate equipment and clothing provided, as and when required
• Systematically identifying and managing hazards
• Keeping the workplace tidy to minimise the risk of any trips and falls
• Actively and accurately reporting, recording and investigating all incidents / accidents and taking appropriate actions
• Employees reporting any pain or discomfort as soon as possible
• Supporting the safe and early return to work of employees following injury or illness
• Helping new employees, volunteers and visitors to the workplace understand current safety procedures and the reasons for their existence
• Support employee and union consultation and participation in health and safety management, including the Health & Safety Committee
• Seeking continuous improvement to systems and practices using the ACC  Worksafe cycle of “review, plan, action”
• Meeting our obligations under the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 (and amendments), Regulations, Codes of Practice, Standards and Guidelines

Signed by Chief Executive Officer Keith Marshall

Policy Review Date: 19 September 2013