What makes a good SSSP?
SSSP need to reflect the specific site – that’s why there are 3 “S’s”. Too many contractors roll out the same material for every site. SSSP are a key part of contractor management – in fact the front end. Get this wrong and you are not managing contractor health and safety.
It’s ok to use a standard risk register as a baseline but remove what is irrelevant. Reviewers don’t appreciate reading through things that don’t apply. And ensure the site-specific risks are both included and appropriately worded in the risk register. Further, ensure the risks / hazards advised by the main contractor are included.
Same with Safe Work Procedures – ensure they describe the work accurately.
Ensuring workers are competent is fundamental to ensuring safety. To this end the SSSP needs to be clear with detailing competencies. “Height training” for example, is meaningless. Further generic courses such as a Site Safe Passport might sound good but do not establish any particular competence. What is required is documentation which details formal recognised technical training and details the nature of practical experience. We have a separate post on how we establish competency.
Covering off the 3 C’s
The HSWA 2015 charges PCBUs with a duty to eliminate or minimize risks to worker health and safety. Where duties overlap, sections 31–34 mandate that PCBUs practice the “3 C’s”: consulting, co-operating, and co-ordinating with one another.
Whether it’s a quick plumbing fix or a major project, the “3 C’s” apply. The plumber should lead by sharing their risk assessment, while the building owner must alert them to site-specific dangers. Though a simple conversation suffices, most parties fail to communicate at all.
In a more complex scenario, it is a different story. This is where the SSSP enters the picture. The SSSP details potential risks associate with the work and the site, how these will be controlled and what systems will be used to manage health and safety. The SSSP documents these and, if accepted by the other PCBU involved, meets the requirements of sections 31-34. The problem is many NZ companies cannot provide acceptable SSSP.