Health and Safety in Our Practice

GPDocs Model Practice is committed to providing a healthy, safe, and supportive environment and workplace for our staff, patients, visitors, and contractors.

We meet our obligations under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and Health and Safety at Work (Hazardous Substances) Regulations 2017 to protect our staff and patients and prevent harm in our workplace through effective risk management, commitment to working safely, and a clear process for managing and learning from accidents and incidents at the practice.

Health and safety coordinator

Who is your health and safety officer? If you have more than one, tell us who they all are.

Our designated health and safety coordinator informs staff of their roles and responsibilities, monitors and reviews the practice's health and safety compliance, and:

• responds to staff health and safety concerns
• helps to conduct an internal audit each year
• reviews safe practices in using practice buildings, plant, operation, and emergency procedures, and reports on this regularly to practice management.

The designated health and safety coordinator also ensures that staff (workers) have the opportunity to engage in improving health and safety, by discussing health and safety at team meetings and encouraging feedback from staff.

Other responsibilities

PCBU

The practice management is classified as the PCBU, or "person conducting a business or undertaking". The PCBU has a primary duty of care to its workers.

At GPDocs Model Practice, they demonstrate their commitment to health and safety by:

• using hazard identification and risk management throughout the practice to prevent personal injury
• identifying all new and existing hazards, assessing the risks posed by such hazards, and implementing control measures to manage those risks so far as is reasonably practicable
• ensuring that all practice staff are made aware of the hazards in their work area and are trained to work safely
• investigating all reported incidents and injuries to identify contributing factors, and where necessary, to develop plans for corrective action
• maintaining our equipment in a serviceable state, immediately reporting any defects or faults
• providing staff with the necessary instructions and adequate training to do their job safely
• providing personal protective equipment when necessary
• maintaining a comprehensive and current emergency plan
• engaging with staff and encouraging their participation in health and safety
• supporting staff for the safe and structured return to work after an injury.

Practice officers must also exhibit a reasonable standard of care when carrying out due diligence.

Workers

All staff are classified as workers.

All workers at the practice are responsible for health and safety. We expect practice staff to meet their obligations to keep themselves safe and healthy, and encourage all staff to become actively involved in achieving a healthy and safe practice environment. During their induction, new staff are introduced to the health and safety policy at the practice and the fundamental role of health and safety management in the way we work.

We expect all staff to:

• follow safe working procedures
• wear and use all personal protective equipment provided correctly
• report all incidents, injuries, and hazards to the practice manager and/or designated health and safety person
• notify us early if experiencing any work-related pain or discomfort
• take an active role in their rehabilitation plan for an early and safe return to work following an injury or illness
• take an active role in health and safety.

Staff may also elect a health and safety representative. See WorkSafe | Mahi Haumaru Aotearoa Health and Safety Representatives for further information.

All staff receive a Health and Safety Induction, which includes a checklist for all new staff and locums to complete and sign.

Health and safety monitoring and reporting

Health and safety is a standing agenda item at all staff meetings.

See also Health and Safety Monitoring.