Primary Duty of Care

The specific obligations and duties of the practice as a PCBU are, so far as is reasonably practicable, to:

• provide and maintain a work environment, plant, and systems that are without risks to health and safety
• ensure the safe use, handling, and storage of plant, structures, and substances
• provide adequate facilities at work for the welfare of workers, including ensuring access to those facilities
• provide information, training, instruction, or supervision necessary to protect everyone from risks to their health and safety arising from work activities at the practice
• monitor the health of workers and the conditions at the workplace for the purpose of preventing injury or illness.

At GPDocs Model Practice, to provide and maintain a work environment, plant, and systems that are without risks to health and safety, we:

• follow our medical equipment checking guidelines, including electrical safety, and use a registered electrician for any electrical work
• follow our infection control guidelines
• maintain a smokefree environment and follow guidelines about alcohol on practice property
• have systems in place for hazard management and reporting and for reporting and recording accidents and incidents
• have comprehensive and current emergency planning and evacuation procedures for natural and other disasters such as fire and earthquake, and disaster and crisis management plans
• have comprehensive child protection policies and recruitment/vetting procedures
• have a system for reporting and managing complaints.

To ensure the safe use, handling, and storage of plant, structures, and substances, we:

• follow our medical equipment checking guidelines, including electrical safety, and use a registered electrician for any electrical work
• follow our guidelines for storage and use of hazardous substances, including controlled drugs
• follow our waste management guidelines, including the disposal of needles and sharps
• provide personal protective equipment as necessary
• regularly inspect all plant and maintain a maintenance log (detailing plant or equipment name, location, serial or identification number, work carried out, date, time, and who the work was carried out by).

We provide adequate facilities at work for the welfare of workers, including ensuring access to those facilities, including:

• handsoap, hot water, and adequate toilets, and access as necessary for contractors
• facilities and space for staff to prepare hot drinks and eat their lunch.

We provide the information, training, instruction, or supervision necessary to protect everyone from risks to their health and safety at work:

• training for staff involved in hazardous activities such as handling chemicals, using dangerous equipment or machinery, and dealing with conflict situations
• supervision for any staff involved in hazardous activities who lack sufficient experience, knowledge, or training
• an induction process for all new staff
• a health and safety meeting/induction with contractors on site
• a visitors policy
• access to our policies and procedures on GPDocs
• training that enables all non-clinical staff to identify and respond appropriately to medical emergencies.

We monitor the health of workers and the conditions at the workplace for the purpose of preventing injury or illness by:

• asking about stress levels and workload
• including health and safety as an agenda item at staff and other practice meetings
• working with any worker-elected health and safety representative (HSR).

Resources

• The Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (full legislation)
• WorkSafe New Zealand