Common questions from SME on H&S management systems
The questions we always get asked about Health and Safety Management systems from SME in NZ are;
- What is a “Health and Safety Management System” and do I need one?
- What do I need to do to set up a health and safety management system for my business?
- What do I get for my money?
- How much does it cost?
Our advice may well be don’t waste your money … particularly when we can give you all you need for FREE with our Winsland H&S APP
What is a Health and Safety Management system?
In short, a formal system to proactively manage safety by have a formal process in place to manage training, inspection, facilities etc – things that can impact safety. The idea is, if you manage these things, you eliminate or minimise harm. The alternative is reactive safety where there is nothing formal in place and things only happen when Worksafe calls or someone gets harmed. Our standard health and safety policy and procedures manual (below) gives detail of what would typically be included.
Do I need a Health and Safety Management system?
This is a question for each organisation.
Determining your needs is largely an issue of risk. While a home-based consultancy or online shop wouldn’t typically need a full setup, a high-risk business definitely would.
That said, it’s important to remember that health and safety isn’t just a paper-shuffling exercise. A system only works if it accurately reflects how you actually manage your operations. If it fails to do that, it won’t be used, which is—frankly—a waste of your resources. Because of this, we emphasize a customized approach that is built with your business, not just something pulled off a shelf.
For this reason, we assign a dedicated consultant to support you through the process.
How do I go about setting up my health and safety system?
The “system” is a package of support with multiple elements. We can always customise but the table below explains. Click each stage to see what is typically involved.
Winsland Health & Safety System Implementation
Click each step to explore how we work with you
Introduction
- Met to develop understanding of the business
- Discuss concerns and objectives
Initial Audit
- Full audit on the operation
Workshop
- Audit feedback
- Critical risks and controls
- Introduction to H&S system
Implementation
- System installation
- Data population
Ongoing Support
- Regulatory updates
- Regular audits
What do I get for my money?
- Foundation: An independent audit is always the starting point to ensure the system is built on facts.
- Compliance: We identify critical risks and assess controls, thereby ensuring you stay ahead of law changes.
- Detail: You receive a full risk register; moreover, it includes dedicated tools for monitoring mandatory regs like fire and haz-subs.
- Technology: Rather than complex software, you get a pre-loaded app that handles the heavy lifting with no IT overhead.
- Documentation: This includes full manuals and SOPs, along with a dedicated space to build your own.
- Automation: Most importantly, system-generated reminders mean you can stop tracking compliance manually and focus on your business.
What it costs for Health and Safety system implementation and ongoing support
To begin, a standard setup fee of $1,500 + GST applies. This covers the full implementation process: the audit, workshop, and platform installation. However, it is important to note that while this establishes the core system, some optional sections will need to be populated by your team.
Following this phase, we will be better positioned to gauge the level of ongoing support you require. At that point, Deb will contact you with suggested options. Our monthly fees—generally between $200 and $300 + GST for small businesses—are based on projected hours and include two audits per year. Furthermore, these fees are reviewed annually and often reduce over time as the business becomes more self-sufficient.
