One safety card to rule them all

Ryman Healthcare has combined with Site Safe to introduce a safety card entry requirement across all its New Zealand construction sites.

The partnership means that all team members and contractors who work on a Ryman site will have to gain a Site Safety Card before January 31, 2021.

Gordon MacLeod said that Ryman had looked for a way to provide consistent health and safety training to ensure that everyone understood the risks and could identify the hazards on-site.

“Our aim is to get everyone home safe each day,’’ Gordon said.

“Partnering with Site Safe made sense because it was a way to ensure that all our contractors and team members had the same training and understood the importance of looking out for themselves and their teammates.

“We operate under a similar system in Victoria with the ‘White Cards’, and we think it is a great way to make sure that everyone who sets foot on a site is trained and aware of the hazards.’’

Gordon said all contractors had been given plenty of notice and had been receptive to the idea as it helps to keep their teams safe. It also meant they could transfer between sites easily, but always be up-to-date with safety procedures.

“Our contractors want consistency, and this means that they can work across multiple sites and understand the expectations are the same.’’

Site Safe offers a wide range of flexible online and in-classroom training options to ensure all workers on construction sites have the relevant safety training.

There are also free resources available to continually support people to expand their health and safety knowledge.

Site Safe Chief Executive, Brett Murray, said both organisations are about putting people first and improving health and safety on-site. “This partnership is about working together to improve the culture and outcomes of health and safety training in the industry.

“It’s also about ensuring all workers get home safely at the end of the day to their whānau.”

The partnership combines the focus and commitment of Ryman Healthcare to prevent harm on-site with Site Safe’s 20-year experience as New Zealand’s leading health and safety solutions provider.

Whilst both organisations already make an impact to improved health and safety across the industry, together that difference will be even more significant.

Pictured from left: Site Nurse Anju Sangwan, Health & Safety Advisor Stewart Connolly, Site Administrator Amanda Bell and Quality Assurance Administrator Leshani Gunawardana.