Toolbox Talks

Accidents describe safety incidents where someone is injured. Although accidents are unintended, few are unforeseeable. An employer’s duty is to control knowable risks to workers safety and health.

Health effects of asbestos exposure are asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. It can take years for the harm to become evident. 220 people die from asbestos related disease every year.

Biological hazards include bacteria, fungi, viruses, plant, and animal particles. Pathogens can be water- or air-borne, or live in organic matter and soil. 80 cases of Leptospirosis and 180 cases of legionellosis were notified to MOH in 2021 (ESR data).

Confined Spaces are "enclosed or partially enclosed spaces not intended for human occupancy" (AS 2865). They pose significant risks due to poor access and environmental, chemical, biological, energy, or impact hazards.

Demolition work is risky and requires high awareness to avoid falls, falling objects, moving machinery, and unstable structures. It can disrupt or uncover live services, hazardous chemicals, or biological materials.

Toolbox talks are a key part of an employer’s duty to manage risks. Talks help demonstrate that an employer informs and trains workers to work safely. They are also an opportunity to encourage positive safety culture through worker engagement.

Safe work systems should eliminate or minimise the risks of fire. HSAW Regulations require workers to be trained to follow emergency response plans, have the appropriate equipment on hand, and have access to first aid.

156 workers were seriously injured by moving objects in 2022, and five workers died from vehicle accidents.

The HSAW Act (2015) requires employers (PCBUs) to ensure safe workplaces and collaborate with other PCBUs. Officers are liable for resourcing safe work and policies. Workers must care for their own and others’ safety and follow employer instructions.

The Health and Safety at Work Act (2015) mandates workers protect their own and others’ welfare and follow employers' reasonable instructions. Employers (PCBU) have a duty to control risks due to their resources and authority over safe work praticices.

Good housekeeping prevents accidents, protects workers, and reduces costs. A messy workplace shows poor safety commitment and site management. The Health and Safety at Work Act (2015) mandates safe workspaces and clear access at all times.

Ladders and residential roofs cause up to 70% of fall injuries, with over 50% from heights less than three meters. Ladders, lacking platforms and fall protection, are inefficient and suitable only for short-term use and accessing levels.

Lead paint, common in older buildings and beneath newer layers, is a chemical hazard. Some special purpose paints still use lead and are clearly labeled as toxic. Assume buildings over 25 years old contain lead.

In civil and commercial construction, cranes are used to move large loads. A competent crane operator is essential. The dogman (rigger) handles slinging the load. The site controller ensures the crane is operational, safely positioned, and used properly.

Managing waste in an organised and safe way contributes to eciency and sustainability. Storing rubbish and material waste unsafely contributes to the thousands of slips, trips, and falls that injure workers and cost employers in lost production.

Manual handling risks are the most common injuries in construction, with 1 in 4 workers receiving a back injury of some description in any year. ACC claims for lifting, carrying, and strain injuries number over 50,000 a year.

Environmental hazards such as seasonal conditions can change our working environments – bringing new risks and changing existing risks.

Temporary Work Platforms include trestles, podiums, folding and step-up platforms, constructed work platforms, and platform ladders. Since 2013, over 5000 construction workers fell from heights, many from low heights, which remain largely unregulated.

Physical hazards pose immediate risks of injury. Cutting and grinding tools must be properly matched and fitted to the machine and task. Workers need to be informed, trained, and supervised to use equipment safely and change discs correctly.

Working at height is a hazard. WorkSafe reported 645 injuries and 12 deaths in construction from 2022 - 2023. Most falls occur from low heights. Work under 3m and scaffolding under 5m are largely unregulated, although duties under HSAW still apply.

All workplaces, including civil and commercial construction sites, must provide safe work areas and healthy facilities for workers. Workers must be able to enter, exit, work, and move within a workplace safety - including in an emergency.

Immediate safety risks often overshadow health risks, though work-related illnesses kill 750-900 NZer's annually. Health issues accumulate over time, unlike injuries from single incidents.