High risk and notifiable work
High risk and notifiable work needs robust controls to help manage the risk to workers and others.
The University Health and Safety Policy defines high risk activity as “an activity which involves, or has the reasonable potential to expose any individual to, a high level of danger.”
Examples of high-risk and notifiable work that might need to be done on campus are:
- working at height
- confined spaces
- hot works
- tree felling
- working with asbestos
- crane use
- helicopter use
- drone use
- fire.
Notifiable work
Notifiable work is especially hazardous work that must be reported to WorkSafe New Zealand before it can begin.
Before beginning notifiable work you must submit a 'Particular Hazardous Work Notification' form to WorkSafe, and provide a copy to your University liaison. A list of all work that is notifiable to WorkSafe is found on the ‘Particular Hazardous Work Notification’ form.
All notifiable works also require a University 'Permit to work'.
If you have questions about notifiable work, contact WorkSafe New Zealand.
Planning for high risk and notifiable work
Before beginning any high risk or notifiable work, specific controls must be in place:
- detailed site and task specific risk assessment
- 'Permit to work' peer review
- any notifiable work must be reported to WorkSafe
- detailed coordination, consultation and cooperation with the University and other PCBUs that may be affected by the work.
Permits to work
Permits to Work must be completed for the following hazardous works:
- Working at heights—above 2m
- Hot works Confined space
- Working with asbestos
- All notifiable work.
You must ensure that the appropriate permits to work are obtained prior to commencing work. Contact safety@vuw.ac.nz in advance if you require a permit to work. Your risk assessments will be reviewed in advance as part of the permit to work process.