The Road to Compliance
NX2 needed to ensure their subcontractors were ISO 45001 compliant on the Ara Tūhono – Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway project.
Project Overview
NX2 (Northern Express Group) is a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) established specifically for the Ara Tūhono – Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway project, owned by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). This 25-year contract spans three phases: design, build, and maintenance of the roadway which extends the four-lane Northern Motorway north to just past Warkworth.
Steve Burris, NX2’s technical manager since 2018, has extensive experience in roading projects in both New Zealand and the UK. His role involves managing the relevant parties involved in Ara Tūhono.
Compliance Challenges
To comply with NZTA’s contractual obligations, NX2’s contractors and subcontractors must meet stringent health and safety standards. Under New Zealand’s Health and Safety at Work Act, you can't insure for or contract out of your PCBU obligations. Steve plays a significant role in ensuring that all subcontractors fulfill their PCBU obligations.
“This includes making sure the subcontractors are aware of their PCBU obligations, that adequate checks and balances are in place, and then monitoring them to ensure they follow all of their management plans,” Steve explains.
The contract with NZTA is highly detailed, especially regarding health and safety, containing schedules that describe exactly what the management plans must include and deliver. While ISO 45001 is not a specific contract requirement, it represents current industry best practices, which is why NX2 audits against this standard.
Overcoming Obstacles
The earlier build phase of Ara Tūhono was undertaken by a larger construction subcontractor with a large scale H&S framework. However, NX2 is now in the maintenance phase, which is less site activity intensive and undertaken by a smaller subcontractor that has different health and safety systems in place. As a lean company, NX2 requires support to audit their subcontractors and guide them to ensure they meet ISO 45001 standards.
Site Safe’s Support
NX2 were already Site Safe Members, and the NX2 team are already required to have Site Safe Foundation Passport training. In addition, NX2 has used Site Safe to undertake monthly site inspections since construction started in 2017. It was this existing relationship that meant Site Safe Auditor, Gary Hyndman, could work closely with NX2 throughout the build phase and transition into the maintenance phase. Now both he and Site Safe Lead Auditor, Stephan Geldenhuys, engage with NX2 on ongoing inspections and auditing.
One of the goals as the project moved into the maintenance phase was to assist the maintenance subcontractor to meet the ISO 45001 standard. NX2 asked Site Safe’s Stephan to assist with this process.
While the subcontractor was holding regular safety meetings and actioning much of their health and safety requirements, there were some areas, such as documentation, where they could improve.
“They had very good management plans, reviewed annually by NZTA, but they weren’t always following them to the letter,” Steve noted.
Stephan’s audit was extremely helpful in identifying areas where more focus was needed and any gaps between the legal WorkSafe obligations and ISO 45001 best practices as they each have different requirements.”
Implementing Solutions
NX2 is required to make sure their subcontractors follow ISO 45001, but it’s not their responsibility to bring those companies up to standard. Instead, Steve uses a proactive approach, highlighting any issues and educating subcontractors on expected performance to achieve compliance.
So, Site Safe’s Stephan joined NX2 to hold a workshop, educating the subcontractor on ISO 45001, their requirements, gaps, and expected actions to address them.
Achieving and Results
These independent audits allow Steve to regularly present his findings to NX2’s Board of Directors, empowering them to make more informed decisions in running the project. “This particular audit was invaluable” Steve concluded. The information provided allowed NX2 to give the Board Directors assurance that NX2’s PCBU obligations were being met and that the appropriate actions were being taken to ensure that NX2’s maintenance subcontractor is complying with ISO45001.
Just like a new roadway, good safety practice requires maintenance, so Steve will check in with his subcontractors once again in a few months' time to track their progress. But for now, things look bright.
The Road Forward
NX2's commitment to health and safety on the Ara Tūhono – Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway project highlights the importance of rigorous standards and continuous improvement. By partnering with Site Safe, NX2 has ensured that their subcontractors meet ISO45001 standards, enhancing overall safety and compliance. This collaboration not only strengthens the safety culture within the project but also sets a benchmark for future projects in the construction industry. Site Safe's tailored support and thorough audits have been instrumental in helping NX2 maintain high safety standards, ultimately contributing to a safer working environment for all involved.
To discuss your safety needs, and how Site Safe can help, visit sitesafe.org.nz or call 0800 SITE SAFE.