Big construction projects require co-operation between parties in order to keep people safe, and we're reminding contracting firms that New Zealand’s health and safety laws actually require it.

“Building sites can involve hundreds of people coming and going over the course of a build. Co-operating with other parties, and knowing what safety systems are in place is key to keeping workers safe from harm,” says WorkSafe Deputy General Manager, Investigations and Specialist Services, Simon Humphries.

Premier Project Management Limited was sentenced in the Auckland District Court yesterday after an incident on an Auckland building site they were managing, where a lack of communication between companies led to a worker being severely injured.

What are YOUR critical risks?

Every business owner needs to understand the risk profile of their company. You need to know which hazards warrant the most attention and effort. This will vary from one organisation to the next, even within the same industry. Your operations, equipment, people and environments are unique to your business.

Can you confidently state the top five or ten critical risks for your organisation? If not, you've got work to do...