Title

Identify the roles and responsibilities of the health and safety

representative in the workplace

Level

Credits

Purpose

People credited with this unit standard are able to: define the
role of the health and safety representative in the workplace;
identify the requirements of the Health and Safety in
Employment (HSE) Act 1992; outline the functions of hazard
management under the HSE Act; identify the training
requirements for hazard management under the HSE Act;
identify the requirements for dealing with emergencies; identify
the requirements for reporting, recording and investigating
injury and incidents; and identify the requirements for
rehabilitation under the Accident Compensation (AC) Act 2001.

Classification

Occupational Health and Safety > Occupational Health and

Safety Practice

Available grade

Achieved

Explanatory notes
1

Legislative requirements include but are not limited to Hazardous Substances and
New Organisms Act 1996; Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 (HSE Act);
Employment Relations Act 2000; Accident Compensation Act 2001 (AC Act); Privacy
Act 1993.

This unit standard is intended for employees who will hold the role of health and
safety representative as provided for under Part 2A of the HSE Act.

Definition
Harm refers to the meaning used in section 2 of the HSE Act.

Outcomes and evidence requirements

Outcome 1
Define the role of the health and safety representative in the workplace.
Evidence requirements
1.1

The impact of workplace injuries and illnesses is described in terms of costs,

discomfort and/or disability, anxiety and/or depression, and the strain on
personal relationships.

1.2

Health and safety management systems and practices are identified in terms of
employers obligations to prevent injury and illness in the workplace.
Range

1.3

may include but is not limited to hazard identification, procedure

for emergencies, effective employee participation, training and
supervision, rehabilitation, responsibilities of contractors, incident
and injury reporting and investigation, notifying Occupational
Safety and Health Service, monitoring, information about hazards,
provision of protective equipment, hazard control.

The Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) WorkSafe Cycle, or similar

model, is identified in terms of keeping workplaces safe.
Range

may include but is not limited to hazard management, incident

investigation, training and supervision, employee participation,
emergency readiness, contractor management, injury
management.

1.4

The role and function of the Health and Safety representative is described in
terms of legislative requirements, including the process for issuing hazard
notices.

1.5

The principles for involving workers in health and safety are identified in terms
of fostering improvements in health and safety management practices.
Range

1.6

may include but is not limited to lessening the load on health and
safety representatives, talking one-to-one, finding the natural
leaders, getting people involved in activity, providing structure and
organisation, making the activity collective, talking to the employer.

Information that needs to be documented by the health and safety

representative is identified in terms of source and requirements.
Range

may include but is not limited to workplace sources, external

sources, written records, personal discussions (dates, participants,
and outcomes).

Outcome 2
Identify the requirements of the HSE Act.
Evidence requirements
2.1

The components of the HSE Act are identified in terms of amendments,

regulations, codes of practice, guidelines, guides, and standards.

2.2

The object of the HSE Act is described in terms of section 5 of the HSE Act.

2.3

The duties of employers, employees, principals, and suppliers are described in

terms of their legislative requirements.

2.4

The right to refuse unsafe work is identified in terms of section 28A of the HSE

Act.
2.5

The process of employee participation is described in terms of Part 2A and

Schedule 1A of the HSE Act.

2.6

The rights of employee representatives are identified in terms of section 104 of

the Employment Relations Act.

2.7

The requirements for effective health and safety systems are defined in terms of
the HSE Act.
Range

includes but is not limited to sections 7-10, 12, 13, 16, 18, 19,
25-28.

2.8

Compliance requirements are identified in terms of offences, penalties and

Crown liability.

2.9

The role of the Occupational Safety and Health Service is defined in terms of
providing information, inspection services, investigating accidents and
prosecutions.

Outcome 3
Outline the functions of hazard management under the HSE Act.
Evidence requirements
3.1

The process for managing hazards is described in terms of identification,

assessment, action, and monitoring.

3.2

The key concepts of hazard management are defined in terms of what

constitutes a hazard, harm, significant hazard, serious harm, and all practicable
steps.

3.3

Hazard management techniques are identified in terms of mapping the

workplace, self-report of discomfort and pain, workplace hazards that cause
discomfort and pain, preventing injuries and ill health, surveys, and risk
assessment.

3.4

The compliance requirements for hazard management are identified in terms of

hazard notices, infringement notices, and working with the Occupational Safety
and Health Service.

Outcome 4
Identify the training requirements for hazard management under the HSE Act.
Evidence requirements
4.1

Training for hazard management is identified in terms of safe work procedures,

use of protective equipment, and emergency procedures.

Range
4.2

at least two examples for each of the above.

Training for new workers is identified in terms of induction, safe working

practices, and supervision requirements.

Outcome 5
Identify the requirements for dealing with emergencies.
Range

includes but is not limited to evacuation procedures, civil defence procedures,

food and water storage, injury.
Evidence is required for two of fire, earthquake, chemical spills.

Evidence requirements
5.1

Potential emergencies are identified.

5.2

Procedures for dealing with emergencies are described in terms of measures to

be taken to protect personnel, plant, the public, and the environment.

Outcome 6
Identify the requirements for reporting, recording, and investigating injury and incidents.
Range

HSE Act sections 25-28, incident investigation models.

Evidence requirements
6.1

The importance of reporting incidents is identified in terms of injury prevention.

6.2

The procedures for reporting and recording incidents and injuries are described
in terms of what to report, who to report to, how to report, and what to record.

6.3

The process for investigating an incident or injury is described in terms of

considering contributory factors, (focusing on workplace culture, system and
task factors), and looking for prevention and management solutions.

Outcome 7
Identify the requirements for rehabilitation under the AC Act.
Evidence requirements
7.1

The purpose of the AC Act is described in terms of injury prevention,

rehabilitation, compensation, and fair processes.

7.2

The process of workplace rehabilitation is described in terms of the

responsibilities of the medical practitioner, the employer, the ACC, the injured
worker, and the health and safety representative.

Planned review date

31 December 2015

Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process
Version
Date
Last Date for Assessment
Registration

17 December 2003

N/A

Review

25 May 2007

N/A

Rollover and
Revision

22 May 2014

N/A

Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference

0003
This CMR can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA,
before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards, or deliver courses
of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by
NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and
which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that
applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies
to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The
CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing
to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors
and assessors, and special resource requirements.