Health and Safety

 

 

 

Accredited AS/NZS4804,  AS3806 and AS/NZS4360


Building and structure destruction, is inherently dangerous. Many examples, both locally and globally, can be drawn upon to illustrate the problems that will arise when all scenarios are not catered for, and where work practices and contract management are questionable.

 

Nikau works differently, by fully committing to the health and safety of all persons, in all areas, of operations.  This commitment is not just lip service,  our Health and Safety Department is a core operating area within the organisation. It, along with Nikau's Environmental Policies,  forms the basis of the company's continued objective to provide our Clients with the most efficient,  yet safest deconstruction service available.  

 

 

Nikau’s management places high value on the skills and expertise of our staff.  This commitment is reinforced through the provision of a stable,  well balanced,  fair and safe working environment and conditions. Nikau also encourages staff to grow and enhance their skills and knowledge through NZCITO training programs.

 

Like Nikau’s various demolition contracts,  the health,  safety and injury prevention systems are also constantly evolving, for improvement and best practice,  another major factor in helping to firmly cement the company’s position as the New Zealand’s industry leader.

 

Nikau’s Health and Safety System is comprised of the following key elements;

Our Team - the company's Number One resource
  • A continued "team effort" approach to safety and health within the company's work sites,  allowing all staff to be involved and participate in their own as well as their work mates safety within the workplace,  through the hazard management and accident and injury prevention processes through to the continued maintenance of concise, correct and complete paper trails.  These responsibilities are reinforced through job descriptions, COC's and employment contracts that have a heavy HSE content.
  • Providing a stable working environment,  Nikau's staff turnover is low,  in particular with senior staff members, ( current average of 12 years service).  This allows the company to utilise a huge pool of expertise and knowledge and is a major key in it's continued success and growth.
  • The industry's highest wage award standards reflects the company's dedication to it's staff members as well as emphasising the high expectations management places on it's staff for excellence in health and safety practices.
  • Evaluation and selection of new staff members to stringent criteria to ensure they meet our high standards.
  • High standards of on site training and supervision by highly skilled and certified staff.
  • Quality training both inhouse and through the NZQA and industry associations (NZCITO) training frameworks providing recognised certification,  coupled with continued monitoring and annual evaluation of staff members on site safety practices.
  • Health monitoring of all employees comprised of both job specific and bi-annual medicals.

Effective, Pro-Active Management

  • Commitment of management through the provision of a fully functioning health and safety system,  with policies and guidelines working towards continued improvement on current practices.
  • Providing staff and clients with a dedicated,  full time HSE Manager,  who supports,  advises,  recommends and assists with matters of health and safety.
  • Annual planning of the department’s forward goals and objectives incorporated in the company's annual strategic planning and is central to the operations of all areas within the company.  The annual operating budget set currently at 15% of total budget,  is,  unlike other operating areas,  flexible,  yet reinforces the commitment and priority health and safety has from management.  This budget is allocated in key areas such as training,  resources,  monitoring and safety equipment purchases.
  • Accountability of senior management to the health and safety performances within their departments. Management rewards all staff with monetary incentives based on health and safety,  environmental and contract completion performance.  
  • Effective on site hazard management procedures conducted regularly throughout the working day. Identifying potential emergencies and implementing successful management procedures which are site specific.  Because of the evolving nature of demolition,  HSE matters can take up a large proportion of time for all site supervisors and managers.
  • Excellence in contract management,  from tendering stage right through to de mobilisation off site,  where HSE issues are given top priority in all planning.
  • Regular internal and external monitoring of systems to ensure that they continue to work effectively and remain live throughout the organisation.
  • Effective incident management ensures that accidents and incidents are reveiwed and analysed to identify trends and act as a check to see that remedial actions taken are effective.

High Quality Plant and Equipment

  • Evaluation and selection of new plant and equipment to maximise safety with high considerations given to environmental policies and ease of operation without reducing efficiency and productivity.
  • Highest quality in maintenance and repairs on all plant and equipment within the guidelines of the company’s ISO9002 certification to ensure that all R&M meet the highest industry standards and are all currently certified to meet various approved codes of practices.  85% of the company's repairs and maintenance is completed in house through the company's own fleet of highly trained mobile mechanics and fully maintained service depot.
  • Providing effective safe work practices and operations of plant and equipment and ensuring all required staff receive training in these practices.
  • Excellent and innovative specialist safety equipment available for specialist contracts,  such as air quality monitoring devices,  allow our staff to work safely under stringent conditions.
  • Senior site staff utilise the latest technology in laptops computers and digital cameras providing wireless communications and enhancing liquidity of information between management,  site staff and our Clients.

An Effective and Efficient Support Network

  • Internal off site support and administration allows site staff the ability to have plant and equipment delivered to their site in an efficient and prompt manner.
  • External specialist assistance and advice for both management and staff allows the company's EHS policies to grow and work effectively.
  • Post Incident and Accident rehabilitation regimes,  though not yet required,  are in place to assist staff members and their families should,  due to their working environment,  be unable to work for set periods.
  • Two external health specialists contracted to the company to assist with it's monitoring requirements and providing excellent health and medical assistance to staff members.
  • Working with,  not against,  regulatory authorities to provide firm sucessful HSE implementation throughout all operations,  through the sourcing of information and guidance.
  • Although the company leads towards having most works completed in house,  any subcontracting out of any works is done within strict HSE guidelines and requirements.